Meet Catherine Debrunner, the six-time Paralympic gold medalist who won the wheelchair event at the 2024 Chicago Marathon

Catherine Debrunner is a wheelchair athlete from Switzerland who has competed in various events such as marathons, 400m, 800m, etc. Most recently, the 29-year-old participated at the 2024 Chicago Marathon where she won the wheelchair event.

The Swiss para-athlete clocked a run time of 1:36:12 to win the event after beating her compatriot Manuela Schar, and the United States' Tatyana McFadden. This was Debrunner's second victory in the Chicago World Marathon major after her heroics in 2023 where she registered a run-time of 1:38:44.

Schar and McFadden eventually grabbed the second and third positions on the podium with run-times of 1:39:03 and 1:41:59 respectively.

"I was super excited to come back here to Chicago. I really like the marathon here. It was a really tough race. There was a lot of wind and of course, it's always tough when you do all yourself. And I struggled quite often, so I was really happy when I was in the finish." Debrunner said after her victory via NBC Chicago.

With all this said, let's find out more about the decorated wheelchair track and field athlete from Switzerland, Catherine Debrunner.

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Catherine Debrunner: Family and hometown

Debrunner during the 11th day of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games (Image via: Getty Images)

Debrunner was born in the region of Mettendorf in Switzerland on April 11, 1995. She has been in a wheelchair since birth due to a tumor in her spine. However, she has not let that slow her down. More information about her family and parents is not available in the media.

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Catherine Debrunner: Educational details

Debrunner during the 2023 Para Athletics World Championships (Image via: Getty Images)

Debrunner completed her collegiate education at the Thurgau University of Education in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. Information about her primary education and school is not available on the web.

Besides her occupation as a sportsperson, Debrunner has also worked as a school teacher for a few years till 2022.

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Catherine Debrunner: Other achievements of the wheelchair athlete

Debrunner during the 2023 BMW Berlin Marathons (Image via: Getty Images)

Debrunner is one of the most decorated female para-athletes in the current circuit. The Mettendorf native has won an impressive eight Paralympic medals so far in her career.

In the recently concluded Paralympic Games in Paris, Debrunner clinched six medals, including five gold in the 400m T53, 800m T53, 1500m T54, 5000m T54, and Marathon T54 events, and a silver in the 100m T53 event.

Moreover, at the World Para Athletics Championships, Debrunner has amassed eight medals, including five gold. The Swiss para-athlete also has an impressive track record in marathon events, including winning the London Marathon thrice consecutively and winning the Berlin Marathon twice.

In May 2023, she also won the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.