A wheelchair athlete training at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has added yet another medal to her accolades.
Paralympian and U of I alumna Susannah Scaroni won the Chicago Marathon women’s wheelchair race on Sunday.
She also took first place in Chicago in 2022 has competed for Team USA in four Paralympic games, winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
“There’s so many variables that can go on in a race,” she said. “To have a day where I was actually, you know, feeling good, my equipment, everything went well, I was healthy, all happening on race day was awesome for me.
Scaroni said the Chicago Marathon holds special meaning for her, since it was the first marathon she competed in after moving to Champaign-Urbana in 2011.
It’s kind of fun to be able to drive there, and also hear a lot of I-L-L out on the course,” she said. “I’ve done this so many, so many times that I know kind of the places in Chicago that my my strengths kind of have an advantage at and so I really grateful. I kind of took advantage of that early on, which is where they are, and it worked.”
The athlete’s win this year represents a comeback after a flat tire derailed her race in Chicago last year.
Scaroni trains at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic National Training Site for Wheelchair Track on the U of I campus. She said the program has helped her and other teammates succeed.
“I think it’s just really cool the program we have here is living up to the legacy that it kind of created in the sport,” she said.
Fellow U of I racer Tatyana McFadden took third place in the women’s wheelchair race.
Scaroni’s attention now turns to preparing for the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2.
IPM’s Arjun Thakkar spoke with the two-time Boston Marathon winner to reflect on her performance.
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and conciseness.
ARJUN THAKKAR: Susannah, how do you feel after winning the women’s wheelchair race at the 2025 Chicago Marathon?
SUSANNAH SCARONI: I feel tired, a little sore, but also very thankful. I think you never know — there’s so many variables that can go on in a race. And so, to have a day where I was actually, you know, feeling good, my equipment, everything went well, I was healthy, all happening on race day was awesome for me. I’m so happy. I’ve done this so many times that I know kind of the places in Chicago that my strengths kind of have an advantage at, and so I really grateful. I kind of took advantage of that early on — which is where they are — and it worked. But in addition to that, I also know that, one of my top competitors, she also, I found out after the race is not feeling that well. And so I, you know, you just really don’t take for granted those days where you are feeling good and you’re not, you know, battling anything. So, feel for her, and also really grateful that I was able to have the day like yesterday.
THAKKAR: What does this win mean for you after, as I understand it, having a flat tire interrupt your race at the Chicago Marathon last year?
SCARONI: So I am just, again, it’s one of those things you never — I never take anything for granted when I, you know, don’t get a flat tire, or I don’t have a number of other things that can happen. I’ve had a great summer training. You know, we didn’t have any major track events this summer, so I was able to really focus on these fall marathons. And I love just being able for all of that, to be able to be displayed on race day. And last year, you know, I also felt awesome. I felt strong. We had beautiful weather, and then at mile three, got a flat front tire. So just always grateful when things like that don’t happen.
THAKKAR: And what did your preparation and training look like for this race? And how did that compare to past races?
SCARONI: You know, this year, the big difference for me this year was I did the Sydney Marathon on August 31st, so that was the first time I’ve ever done that race. The main difference was it took me a while to recover from Sydney. I don’t know if it was more of the massive travel that that was, or if my body was getting older, or there was other things going on. I think a lot of people I know, in Champaign got sick around that time I got back. So all this to say it was really, the last, you know, three weeks I’ve been just trying to give my body the training, the consistent training, I guess, but also have to trust that it just needed time, and hopefully would get back to where I was before Sydney. I kind of had to focus a lot on recovery really, leaning into Chicago. But I’m happy that just a, you know, a few days this week, I started feeling like I was really hitting speeds that I’ve been hitting. That was a major difference this year compared to others.
THAKKAR: And this is, I believe, your your second time placing first in the Chicago Marathon. And you’re also, I believe, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon. Where does this marathon race stand compared to, you mentioned Sydney, the many other races you’ve competed in?
SCARONI: As a wheelchair racer who does marathons, I’m very fortunate in a way, like I have seven competitions a year that are very high level, that basically are similar to the Paralympic Games, where you have [an] international field, and everybody is trying to do well at that race. For me, they’re all really important. Typically, I have a little bit more of an advantage on a hilly course like Boston and like New York City. However, that being said, as I mentioned, like, I’ve tried to work on some of those other parts of a race that I can get as good as I can. And so there’s pieces of that in Chicago. And so I’m really proud of Chicago, because it is a flat course, but I was able to kind of work a lot on some of the technical aspects over my career, and be able to do as much as I could on those yesterday, and it was successful.
THAKKAR: Looking ahead, were there — I guess I wanted to just ask, in closing, what athletic goals you have for the future and what’s next on your radar in terms of other races or events you’ll be competing in?
SCARONI: My next and my last major event this season is the New York City Marathon on November 2nd. And that one is also a really key one for me, especially it’s a hilly course, and I it’s also, I think, I would say, the most challenging marathon. So really want to focus on my recovery and being healthy and strong for that day. But a big picture is that we are hosting the next Paralympic Games. So Los Angeles 2028 I think, is a huge, huge event on my radar, especially as an American. And the build up to that, I think, is also really key and cool, as we can hopefully help, you know, inform the public about parasports to get really pumped up for the Paralympic Games.
THAKKAR: Thank you so much for your time, Susannah, and hope the rest of the recovery goes well.
SCARONI: Thank you so much.