Wyatt Anderson completes Chicago Marathon after spinal injury

Wyatt Anderson, a 17-year-old from Kentucky, completed the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday with a time of 3:56:28. His achievement comes less than a year after a severe spinal injury left him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.

The injury occurred last November while Anderson was playing basketball. He tripped while attempting a rebound and struck his head against a wall, causing him to black out and lose movement in his limbs. Following the accident, he underwent spinal fusion surgery and underwent months of intensive physical therapy to relearn how to walk.

Anderson noted that his goal to run a marathon within a year was inspired by a story from a therapist about a man who completed 50 marathons in 50 states while using a wheelchair. He encouraged others to stay positive and embrace every opportunity during recovery.