By Josh Williams
DNAINFO Reporter/Producer
CENTRAL PARK — And you thought regular tri-athletes were tough?
Willie Stewart, 48, set a new record for a disabled competitor in the Nautica New York City Triathlon, finishing in 2:28:55 — despite having just one arm.
And he said he was spurred on by the huge number of disabled competitors at this year’s event.
"When you get this number of disabled athletes together, I don't care who you are, you are inspired," said Stewart, from Virginia, who lost his arm in a construction accident.
He said his friends now call him One Armed Willie.
"Ten years ago events like the New York City Triathlon were non existent for those with disabilities," he said.
"Disabled doesn’t mean unable."
Runner-up JP Theberge, 38, lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.
"I had an awful swim, but regardless I go out and try to beat as many as I can, even the 'normies' or the two legged freaks," he said.
One of those "two legged freaks" was Greg Simpson, 33, a fireman from London who pulled a surprise of his own when he proposed to his girlfriend at the finish line, using a ring he had zipped in his wetsuit.
"I'm the happiest girl in the whole world " said teary-eyed fiancé Tracie Humphries, 33, from London."I had no idea."
Filip Ospaly 34, from the Czech Republic won the regular men's race, with Rebeccah Wasner 34, from New York City, winning the women’s. Her younger sister, Laurel, finished second.
The 90-degree heat proved to be too much for some of the athletes. Twelve runners were taken to the hospital for treatment with heat-related problems, the New York Post reported.
"These are highly trained athletes. And they train really well ... We're mostly dealing with a lot of dehydration and cramping," volunteer Dr. Craig Dushey, 34, told the Post.
