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
