Ten years and one month after Buzunesh Deba finished as the rightful winner of the 2014 Boston Marathon, she was finally given the prize money she never received. The award did not come from the Boston Athletic Association, but rather from a stranger named Doug Guyer. Deba had finished in second place in the 2014 race, but the winner, Rita Jeptoo, was stripped of her title after a failed drug test. However, despite Jeptoo’s record being scrubbed and her name tarnished, the prize money was never reclaimed.
Doug Guyer, a businessman from Philadelphia, personally paid Deba her $75,000 winnings after reading an article about her situation. Deba, who has competed internationally for Ethiopia, resides in the Bronx with her husband and two children. Winning the Boston Marathon in 2014 was a career highlight for Deba, and the prize money was sorely needed for her family. She expressed gratitude towards Guyer for providing the much-needed support for her training and family expenses.
The Boston Athletic Association stated that they are in pursuit of reclaiming prize money awards from Rita Jeptoo and plan to pay Deba her winnings when they receive them. Deba had expressed skepticism regarding Jeptoo’s performance on the day of the 2014 race, wondering why she didn’t appear tired at the finish line. Despite a decade of waiting for her rightful winnings, Deba never harbored bitterness towards the BAA, considering them as family.
Deba took her story public in April, just before the 10-year anniversary of her win, after years of trusting that the BAA would do right by her. In response to The Wall Street Journal article, fans around the world came to Deba’s defense, with many willing to crowdfund her winnings. Deba expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that went into her victory. She still holds a dream of returning to the Boston Marathon and winning the prestigious race in the future.
Despite finally receiving her prize money, Deba’s journey to reclaim what was rightfully hers sheds light on the challenges faced by athletes in the world of professional sports. Cases of doping and subsequent stripping of titles and prizes are not uncommon, leaving athletes like Deba in challenging situations. The generosity of individuals like Doug Guyer highlights the importance of supporting athletes who have been wronged and providing them with the recognition and rewards they deserve for their hard work and dedication. The story of Buzunesh Deba serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of athletes in the face of adversity.
