Marcel Hug facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marcel Hug

Hug after winning at the 2025 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Birth name	Marcel Eric Hug
Nickname(s)	The Silver Bullet
Born	(1986-01-16) 16 January 1986 (age 39) Pfyn, Thurgau, Switzerland
Years active	2005–present
Sport
Disability	Spinal cord injuries
Disability class	T54
Club	RC Zentralschweiz RC Thurgau
Turned pro	2010
Coached by	Paul Odermatt
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	2004 2008 2012 2016
Medal record Men's para athletics Representing  Switzerland Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 7 5 3 World Championships 12 9 1 European Championships 6 0 1 Paralympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Marathon T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 800 m T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 1500 m T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 5000 m T54 Gold 2016 Rio Marathon T54 Gold 2016 Rio 800 m T54 Gold 2024 Paris Marathon T54 Silver 2016 Rio 1500 m T54 Silver 2016 Rio 5000 m T54 Silver 2012 London 800 m T54 Silver 2012 London Marathon T54 Silver 2024 Paris 1500 m T54 Silver 2024 Paris 5000 m T54 Bronze 2004 Athens 800 m T54 Bronze 2004 Athens 1500 m T54 Bronze 2024 Paris 800 m T54 World Championships Gold 2006 Assen 10000 m T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 10000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 400 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 1500 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 5000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 10000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon Marathon T54 Gold 2017 London 800 m T54 Gold 2017 London 1500 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 800 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 1500 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 5000 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 400 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 800 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 5000 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 400 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 800 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 1500 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 5000 m T54 Silver 2013 Lyon 800 m T54 Silver 2015 Doha 5000 m T54 Bronze 2015 Doha 800 m T54 European Championships Gold 2014 Swansea 800 m T54 Gold 2014 Swansea 1500 m T54 Gold 2014 Swansea 5000 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 800 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 1500 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 5000 m T54 Bronze 2014 Swansea 400 m T54

Marcel Eric Hug, born on January 16, 1986, is an amazing Paralympic athlete from Switzerland. He competes in wheelchair racing events in the T54 category. People often call him 'The Silver Bullet' because he's incredibly fast!

Marcel has competed in many Summer Paralympic Games for Switzerland. He won two bronze medals at his first Games in Athens in 2004. In 2010, he even set four new world records in just four days! At the 2011 World Championships, he won a gold medal and four silver medals. He often had exciting races against his rival, David Weir.

Marcel Hug is also a world-class marathon racer. He has won many big city marathons multiple times. These include the Berlin Marathon, New York City Marathon, London Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He even set a course record at the Boston Marathon!

Marcel Hug's Journey in Sports

Starting Young: Early Career

Marcel Hug was born in 1986 in a place called Pfyn in Switzerland. He was born with spina bifida, which is a condition that affects the spine. Marcel grew up on a farm with his three older brothers.

When he was young, Marcel met Franz Nietlispach, a famous Swiss wheelchair racer. This meeting made Marcel want to try athletics too. When he was ten, a sports teacher gave him an old racing wheelchair. That same year, Marcel competed in his first wheelchair race, a 3 km youth race. Winning this race made him love wheelchair athletics even more! He then joined a special sports center in Nottwil and started training with Paul Odermatt, who became his coach.

As Marcel got older, he became a top athlete. He started competing in races both in Switzerland and other countries. In 2001, he joined the Wheelchair Sport Switzerland team. He also went to a sports school where he was the only wheelchair athlete. Marcel felt this was very important for him to grow as a person. He also studied at another school, believing that education was important for his future.

Becoming a Champion: Elite Career

Marcel Hug first competed internationally at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. Even though he wasn't officially part of the national team yet, he showed great skill. He raced in four individual events and reached the finals in all of them. He won two bronze medals in the 800m and 1500m races. After these Games, he was named "Newcomer of the Year 2004." The next year, he officially joined the Swiss national team.

In 2006, Marcel competed at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships in the Netherlands. He won his first big international gold medal in the 10,000m race. He also won three silver medals in the 400m, 800m, and 5,000m. In the 400m, he raced against David Weir from Britain. This was the start of a big rivalry between them that lasted for many years in both track and marathon races.

Marcel went to the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. He competed in many races, but he didn't win any medals this time. He even had a crash in two of his races. But Marcel didn't give up! In 2010, he showed how much he had improved. In just four days, he set new world records in four different T54 wheelchair racing events: the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m.

His next big competition was the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championship in New Zealand. Marcel entered eight events! He won a gold medal in the 10,000m. He also won silver medals in the 400m, 800m, 1,500m, and 5,000m. In many of these races, he finished just behind David Weir. It was during these championships that Marcel got his famous nickname, 'The Silver Bullet'. This name came from the shiny silver helmet he always wears when he races.

In 2011, Marcel also won his first major city marathon, the 2011 Berlin Marathon.

Hug, in his trademark silver helmet challenges David Weir at the 2013 London Marathon

The 2011 World Championships prepared Marcel for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. He competed in five events. He won two silver medals: one in the 800m, again finishing behind David Weir, and another in the marathon. The marathon race was incredibly close, with only one second separating the top three racers! Marcel also won the 2012 Berlin Marathon again that year.

In 2013, David Weir did not compete at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon. Marcel took this chance to shine! He won five gold medals in the 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, and the Marathon. He also won a silver medal in the 800m. In November 2013, Marcel won the New York City Marathon for the first time.

On April 13, 2014, Marcel won the 2014 London Marathon. He beat his rival David Weir to take the title. This was Marcel's first win in London after finishing second three times before.

In 2015, Marcel won the 2015 Boston Marathon for the first time. He beat the ten-time winner, Ernst Van Dyk, by over six minutes! Later that year, at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, Marcel won a silver medal in the 5000m and a bronze in the 800m. In 2016, Marcel won two big marathons in just one week! He won his second 2016 Boston Marathon and then his second 2016 London Marathon six days later.

Marcel Hug near halfway point of the Boston Marathon in 2018.

Marcel competed in his fourth Paralympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. He had an amazing performance, winning medals in all four events he entered. He earned two silver medals in the 1500m and 5000m races. Most excitingly, he won his first Paralympic gold medals! He took gold in the 800m and then, on the very last day, he won the men's T54 marathon.

After the Rio Paralympics, Marcel continued to dominate the World Marathon circuit. In October 2016, he won his first Chicago Marathon in a very close finish. In November, he won his second New York City Marathon, also in a photo finish.

In October 2022, Marcel won the 2022 London Marathon with a time of 1:24:38. The next year, he set a new personal record at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 1:22:37. In April 2025, Marcel Hug won the Boston Marathon for an incredible eighth time!

See also

In Spanish: Marcel Hug para niños