Gadi Yarkoni takes 9th Place in Rio Paralympics!

The Israeli marathon runner Gadi Yarkoni participated in the marathon run today in Rio, which was the closing event in the Paralympic games this year.  Gadi placed 9th in the race with a time of 3:05:25.  This was Yarkoni's second time participating in the Paralympic Games.  His record for the Marathon run is 2:48:56.  He came in 13th place in the marathon in London, finishing in 3:01:51, and ran the New York Marathon with Noach Braun in 2010.

 Gadi ran the marathon in Rio tethered to his trainer, Yosef Gazacho, who ran alongside him or behind him throughout the marathon.  Escort runners are not allowed to run in front of a blind runner in order that they not pull them forward in any way.

 Yarkoni, 41, lost his vision in 1993 while fighting against the Hizballah in Lebanon.
He is a graduate of the center who received his first guide dog in 1996.  He was partnered with his fourth guide dog Butch, a yellow Labrador, in November of 2015.

We are proud of Gadi and the other Israeli athletes and their fine accomplishments!  Kol Hakavod!

Gadi and Noach running the New York City Marathon in November, 2012

Gadi Yarkoni and Elon Brachfeld running in the Ro'im Rahok event, 2012

Gadi and his guide dog Butch, 2015