‘The world’s strongest father,’ Dick Hoyt, who moved and inspired many people around the world by pushing a wheelchair carrying a paralyzed son, passed away at the age of 80.
According to major US media such as the Associated Press, Hoyt went to Yeongmyeon on the morning of the 17th (local time) while sleeping at his home in Holland, Massachusetts.
Families said he had heart problems.
Hoyt is best known as’Team Hoyt’ with his son Rick (59), who has cerebral palsy and convulsive general paralysis.
His son, Rick, was severely handicapped when he was born with an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and the supply of oxygen to his brain was interrupted.
I couldn’t move my body on my own, and I couldn’t express myself without a computer device.
Rick, who had a lot of interest in sports from a young age, told his father when he was 15, “I want to participate in a charity running competition for disabled lacrosse players.” I made up my mind.
The Hoit rich man with the entry number 00 cut the finish tape for the second time from the end, but this became the beginning of’Team Hoit’.
Rick said, “Father, when I’m running, I feel like I don’t have any disabilities,” and Hoyt couldn’t stop running for a son like this.
Furthermore, he practiced swimming, trained on a bicycle, and even challenged the triathlon.
‘Team Hoit’ has completed a total of 1,130 competitions, including 72 marathons, 257 triathlons (6 iron man courses), and 22 duathlons over 40 years from 1977 to 2016.
I finished 32 times in the Boston Marathon alone.
In 1992, he also crossed the continental United States on a bicycle and running for 45 days (a total of 6,10 km).
Among the world’s strongest iron men, the father swims in the sea with a rubber boat carrying his son tied to his waist, and rides a bicycle equipped with a special chair on which his son sits.
In response to the reaction of people around him that if he played without a son, there would be an amazing record, his father cut off and said, “If it’s not Rick, there’s no reason to do it.”
The first marathon record, which took 16 hours and 14 minutes to complete, was shortened to 2 hours, 40 minutes and 47 seconds, and the triathlon record was shortened to 13 hours, 43 minutes and 37 seconds respectively.
Those who looked at the rich man with uncomfortable eyes at first started cheering with applause.
The number of members of the charity foundation’Tim Hoit’ increased, and in 2013 a statue of the rich Hoit man was erected near the starting line of the Boston Marathon.
Hoyt planned to refrain from participating in long-distance competitions after the 2013 Boston Marathon when he was 73 years old.
However, the event was halted due to the bombing incident, and in the end, the tournament was halted by reappearing in 2014, finishing the long journey with a record of 7 hours 37 minutes 33 seconds.
The news of Hoyt’s death has led to a wave of commemoration from all walks of life.
The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) mourned, “His determination, passion, and dedication made him an icon and legend of the Boston Marathon.”
“He was a true iron man. When he was sick, he looked at his son, Rick, and made a new decision,” said Steve Burton, sports director of the Boston Regional Broadcasting WBZ.
Rick entered elementary school at the age of 13 and received a degree in computer science from Boston University in 1993.
Whenever I shared my experiences, I would say, “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything if it weren’t for my father. He was the wind that supported me under my wings.”
In addition to Rick, Hoit has two more sons, Russell and Robert.
“It sounds like a cliche, but my father was the hero of all of us. He was a great father who treated and loved all three brothers equally, regardless of disability,” said Russell. “I am very proud of my father who inspired so many people.” I said.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)