Thomas Des Brisay, a 24-year-old with autism, wins Canada Army Run half-marathon
Thomas Des Brisay, a 24-year-old runner with autism, won the half-marathon at the Canada Army Run ahead of more than 8,500 participants.
Félicitations à Thomas Des Brisay, le premier homme à terminer le demi-marathon #ArmyRun! Temps : 1 h 12 m 25 s pic.twitter.com/ZXhBxG1DwR
— Canada Army Run (@CanadaArmyRun) September 18, 2016
Thomas Des Brisay led a pack of more than 8,500 runners to the finish in the half-marathon at the Canada Army Run on Sunday in Ottawa. The 24-year-old runner with autism, also one of Canada’s top para-athletes, ran 1:12:24 to win by almost two minutes over James Murphy. His time was a personal best.
Des Brisay, who runs for the local Ottawa Lions Track Club, is a regular on the Ontario running circuit and completed his first marathon in 2014. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with autism at an early age and has been getting faster by the day since his start in the sport in 2006.
On Sunday, Des Brisay, who wants to be “the first fastest runner in the world,” showed off his speed running his 5K splits as follows: 17:02, 16:19, 17:25, 17:42 and finishing off with a 3:59 final 1.1K.
Congratulations to Thomas Des Brisay for finishing 1st place in the men's #ArmyRun Half Marathon! Time: 1:12:25 pic.twitter.com/U2hNrzsv3i
— Canada Army Run (@CanadaArmyRun) September 18, 2016
Earlier this summer, Des Brisay won the Scotiabank Canada Day 5K in 15:30. One of Des Brisay’s favourite runners is American teenager Mikey Brannigan, who competes in the T20 category and won gold in the 1,500m at the Paralympic Games. Brannigan ran a 3:57 mile this summer.
RELATED: Teenager with autism runs 3:57 mile and sets T20 world record.
Per his YouTube page, Des Brisay was eligible to compete for Canada at the Paralympic Games by virtue of a 4:10 1,500m PB he set in 2016. Though he was not selected, the Ottawa resident has his eyes set on the world championships. Des Brisay, like Brannigan, competes in the T20 category, which is defined as broadly covering athletes with “intellectual impairment,” according to the International Paralympic Committee.
Video on course
Tommy de brisay running to the finish of the half marathon! @ctvottawa @CanadaArmyRun pic.twitter.com/0UvqD5onsN
— LeahLarocque (@LeahCTV) September 18, 2016
Those familiar with Des Brisay often see him running at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility just off the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. He often runs with his father, Peter, who rides on his bike. Peter can be seen in orange in the above video. Des Brisay’s guide dog Adel is typically by his side when he’s in recovery mode between runs.
RELATED: Inspirational day in Ottawa as more than 23,000 take part in Canada Army Run.
The speedy runner also enjoys rock climbing, rowing and skiing.
Des Brisay pre-race
In the women’s race, Rachel Hannah, the bronze medallist at the Pan Am Games in the marathon, won in 1:16. The 29-year-old registered dietitian was first out of 4,306 women and finished fourth overall out of the 8,858 participants.
Congratulations to Rachel Hannah for finishing 1st place in the women's #ArmyRun Half Marathon! Time: 1:16:00 pic.twitter.com/VWL515Aczc
— Canada Army Run (@CanadaArmyRun) September 18, 2016
Hannah is expected to toe the line at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October in hopes of qualifying for the world championships next summer in London. The Canadian has a lifetime best of 2:32:09 in the marathon, which she set in Houston, Texas in January. She will be among the many elite women in the Toronto race along with Krista DuChene, Tarah Korir, Leslie Sexton, Erin Burrett and others.
The Canadian marathon title will be decided at the Toronto Marathon. Earlier in 2016, Hannah won the Canadian 10,000m championships.
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