Final NYC Marathon Finisher Reveals the Emotional Journey That Led to His Triumph

The last runner to cross the New York City Marathon finish line had more than a flag — he carried a story that began years before race day.

As the New York City Marathon wound down and the floodlights flickered over Central Park, one man was still running — alone, battered, but unbroken.

By 12:30 a.m., the finish line had long since been crossed by every other one of the 58,999 participants. But Juan Pablo Dos Santos, a Venezuelan double amputee, was still pushing forward — step by agonizing step — on two prosthetic legs, more than 15 hours after the starting gun.

Yet he wasn't alone. A devoted crowd had remained, refusing to leave until he crossed the finish line. And when he finally did, waving his national flag high above his head, the applause surged into an emotional roar. A song broke out, and the moment was no longer about a marathon — it became a triumph of the human spirit.

Final Runner Crosses the Line to Thunderous Applause

Dos Santos didn't just run a race. He defied every odd, every medical warning, and every voice that said he would never walk again. The 26-year-old Venezuelan athlete had survived a horrific 2019 car crash that cost him both legs.

Doctors told him walking would be impossible. Surgeons rebuilt his hip, pelvis, and what remained of his lower limbs. But he refused to surrender. During the marathon, he was forced to stop every 100 steps, collapse to the ground, remove his prosthetics, and dry the liners to prevent his skin from breaking down — a brutal ritual repeated for over 15 hours. Still, he pressed on.

"It was a complete mental struggle where pain was present and only increasing," he told ABC News Digital. And then, at just past midnight on November 3, he crossed that line — the very last finisher of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.

From Tragedy to Triumph

Dos Santos' story doesn't begin with the race. It started in tragedy — in September 2019, when a devastating car crash changed everything. Faced with unimaginable injuries and mounting medical costs, his family's future looked grim.

But in a twist straight out of a movie, an anonymous donor stepped in, covering the cost of his prosthetic limbs and treatment at a renowned Latin American clinic. That act of kindness would fuel Dos Santos' mission for years to come. He called it a lesson in how "small things" can spark monumental change in a person's life.

Determined to prove his doubters wrong, he used every "no" from medical professionals as fuel. Each limitation they placed on him became a challenge — a dare to defy expectations.

A Foundation for Dreams – And a Goal No One Believed

Fueled by gratitude, Dos Santos launched the Fundación Juan Pablo 2 Santos, a non-profit dedicated to helping amputee children chase their dreams. According to its Instagram page, the foundation now focuses on providing access to prosthetic care for those in need.

But even as he gave to others, Dos Santos still clung to a personal dream — one most considered impossible. He would one day run the New York City Marathon. "I think that the 'no' that was hidden in their eyes and in their expressions motivated me to fight with all my strength to achieve what seemed impossible," he said.

Training in the Face of Pain and Doubt

Preparing for a marathon is hard enough. For Dos Santos, it was nearly impossible. He couldn't train with high mileage due to skin friction, which could cause serious damage. Instead, he leaned on swimming and strength training — conditioning his body in every way except traditional running.

When race day came, he set off nervous but focused. He greeted supporters with a smile, masking the grueling battle unfolding in his body. Between kilometers 20 and 30, pain began to take its toll.

Time dragged, and distances stretched as every step became harder than the last. Then came kilometers 30 to 35 — and a brutal fall. "It was a very painful moment where I felt that this is how far the race could go," he recalled. But he got up. He always did.

Unbearable Pain in the Final Steps

The final two kilometers were torture. Every inch felt like fire, every movement an act of willpower. The pain was unbearable. But Dos Santos refused to stop. Not when he was this close and not after 15 hours.

When he finally reached the finish, the crowd, a few dozen who had stayed behind, erupted in cheers. His arms raised high, Venezuelan flag in hand, he stood not just as a marathoner but a symbol of raw resilience.

And then, just like that, it was over. Dos Santos said that in the minutes after finishing, the pain lifted — not physically, but emotionally. He was overwhelmed with the thought of others who might draw strength from what he'd done.

Dos Santos said that if anyone felt they were late in pursuing their dreams or believed it was too late to go after the things they loved, his journey served as proof that it didn't matter when you arrived. What mattered was that you finished what you started.

Homecoming Hero: 'Simply Grateful and Happy'

Following the race, Dos Santos took to Instagram to reflect. He wrote that he was "simply grateful and happy" to see how his message had reached so many. He said the support filled him with "love, strength, and the will to keep going."

This marathon wasn't about medals or records — it was about proving the impossible. On November 16, he posted a series of photos, including shots from the airport upon his return to Venezuela. In a caption written in Spanish, he thanked his family and homeland.

It had been one week since his return, and he had already completed more than 20 interviews in just five days. He was now being welcomed as a national inspiration, greeted by his Unstoppable team — the people who stood by him from the beginning.

Pablo Dos Santos, crossing that finish line was more than the end of a race. It was a statement to the world — that dreams don't expire, and that strength comes not from the body, but from the unbreakable heart that refuses to quit.

Whether he was the last to finish or not, he crossed it. And in doing so, he showed millions that it's never too late to chase what you love — no matter how far, no matter how painful, no matter how impossible it may seem.