Marcel Hug finishes Chicago Marathon men's wheelchair race with unofficial course record

His finish set an unofficial course record Sunday, which was previously set at 1:22:37. Hug, of Switzerland, had already set back-to-back course records in 2022 and 2023 and is the most decorated men s wheelchair competitor ever in Chicago. The 2026 victory marks his fifth consecutive win in Chicago. This year s win once again comes without a challenge from his biggest rival, however. Hug was supposed to face off against arguably his fiercest competitor, Daniel Romanchuk, but Romanchuk was seen pulling off of the course early on in the race and was out of contention. The reason behind his departure was not immediately known, but analysts suspected it could have been a mechanical issue due to how early in the race it happened. Romanchuk was also not able to race in Chicago in 2025 after he was forced to drop out at the last minute after an injury in Sydney. Hug and Romanchuk have challenged each other in nearly every Chicago Marathon they have competed in and in several other global races. Check back for more on this developing story.