In this episode, Novie Craven sits down with Thomas Cantara, a Special Olympics New Hampshire athlete who has completed all six World Marathon Majors—Boston, Berlin, Chicago, London, New York City and Tokyo. In April 2024, Thomas made history by winning the T20 intellectual impairment division at the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:35:23, marking a milestone in the professional Para Athletics division.
Thomas describes Boston as “one of those marathons where I just had fun,” but his journey is anything but ordinary. His achievements reflect the growing inclusivity of professional sports and the power of perseverance.
Joining the conversation is Mark Duggan, a decorated collegiate athlete and former CEO of Nike Bauer Hockey. As a board member for Special Olympics New Hampshire, Mark has been a driving force behind expanding access to elite competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities, and a key supporter of Thomas’ marathon journey.
In This Episode
- Thomas’ path from Keene, New Hampshire, to the global marathon stage
- His experience winning Boston and racing in Berlin
- The role of Special Olympics Unified Sports® in building lifelong friendships
- Mark’s reflections on sport as a tool for inclusion
- What inclusion means to them, and how we can all help build a more inclusive world
