Matt Choi, a Texas-based influencer, has been disqualified from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon after violating competition rules. The 29-year-old, who finished the race in an impressive 2:57:15, was removed from the official results for running the course with unauthorized assistance. Two individuals, riding electric bicycles, accompanied him, obstructing other runners.
The New York Road Runners (NYRR), the organization behind the marathon, cited violations of World Athletics rules and their own Code of Conduct in their decision to disqualify Choi. In a statement, NYRR confirmed that Choi would be banned from participating in future races organized by them.
The disqualification has sparked mixed reactions on social media. In a TikTok video with nearly half a million views, fellow TikTok creator Michael Brandt defended Choi, praising his ability to inspire people to run marathons and bringing excitement to the sport. “He’s making it really electric and exciting,” Brandt said. However, Brandt also acknowledged the frustration of many would-be participants, noting that the marathon’s limited spaces are valuable, and adding unauthorized riders on the course is against the rules.
Choi took responsibility for his actions in a follow-up TikTok post, where he apologized for endangering other runners and disrupting the event. “I have no excuses, full stop,” he said. “I was selfish on Sunday.” Choi also confirmed that he would not appeal the NYRR’s decision, accepting the consequences of his actions. “I made my bed, so I’m going to lay in it,” he added.
Within the running community, both on TikTok and Reddit, the consensus is largely negative toward Choi’s actions. While influencers continue to play a significant role in popularizing marathons, many believe that it’s important to respect the integrity of the race and the experiences of those competing. In contrast to Choi, other influencers this year successfully engaged with their fans without breaking race rules, finding ways to be inclusive without disrupting the event.