When he was pushed from a moving train at age 26, Edson Dantas suffered injuries to his right leg so severe that his doctors chose to amputate it. Instead of being able to focus on a typical future for someone his age, the athletic Brazilian suddenly found himself dealing with the challenges of life with an amputation.
“It was very difficult to have to go through something so upsetting,” Dantas recalled. “It took away my self-esteem.”
A competitor at heart, however, Dantas found himself drawn back to the soccer field after his rehabilitation. He was able to play again, and buoyed by the confidence he found on the field, he eventually decided he was ready to attempt what he once would have believed impossible-running long-distance races.
Dantas started out big, taking on the New York City Marathon in 2002. He took third place in the category that includes runners with limb loss. Since then, he has laid claim to several long-distance running records and championships, and is considered an elite Brazilian athlete.
On November 1, Edson hit the streets of the Big Apple again, taking first place in his 186-person category with a fleet 3:50 run, an average of 8 minutes 45 seconds per mile.
“It makes me very happy to be able to run through life,” Dantas said. “I’ve come to believe anything is possible.”
