82-year-old delighted

Touching! Rank 54280 – and still a big winner

Peter Bartel provided a goosebump moment at the marathon in Berlin.(Bild: instagram.com/berlinmarathon)

What an incredible fighter's heart! On Sunday, Peter Bartel finished 54280th and therefore last in the Berlin Marathon. Nevertheless, the 82-year-old was one of the big winners and provided a real goosebump moment.

It was the emotional highlight of the race: Peter Bartel, of all people, who had already taken part in the first marathon in Berlin in 1974 (his time: four hours and 41 minutes), when just 286 runners had taken part, was the last runner to cross the finish line on Sunday.

It was a touching scene. Bartel, who almost stumbled shortly before the end, kissed the ground behind the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate after 42.195 kilometers. The 82-year-old was visibly overwhelmed as he accepted the congratulations. His time: 8:59:18 hours.

"Shut up!"
 Before that, it had been a tough battle against body and mind. "My knee has already reported several times, I have an artificial one. It was asking: 'Do you have to do that?' I replied: "Shut up!"," Bartel told "RBB".

Assaulted by two men
But Bartel had not always had good marathon experiences in the past. As reported by Bild, he was attacked a few years ago during a 24-hour relay race for the Berlin City Mission's winter aid for the homeless. Two men injured him, destroying his knee. This makes his incredible feat of willpower on Sunday all the more impressive ...