A running influencer from Texas has found himself at the center of controversy following his disqualification from the New York City Marathon over the weekend. Matthew Choi, hailing from Austin, was not only erased from the results of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon but has also been banned from participating in any future New York Road Runners (NYRR) events. The decision was prompted by his actions during the marathon, where he was seen running part of the course along with two unauthorized individuals on electric bicycles, capturing footage as they recorded him. This breach of conduct was deemed as obstructing other participants on one of the world’s most significant running stages.
According to the NYRR, the disqualification and ban stemmed from violations of World Athletics rules and the organization’s Code of Conduct. They stated, "Due to violations of World Athletic rules, and New York Road Runners’ Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition, we have instituted this penalty." By allowing e-bikes on the course, Choi’s actions not only jeopardized the integrity of the event but also endangered the safety of other marathon runners.
Choi expressed regret for his behavior, issuing a video apology soon after the incident. With over 404,000 followers on Instagram and more than 465,000 on TikTok, Choi has garnered significant attention for his running content, but this incident has brought unwanted scrutiny. He acknowledged his mistakes, stating, "I f---ed up. This wasn’t a video I was planning on making. But I have no excuses, full stop. I was selfish on Sunday." He went on to detail how his actions affected his fellow runners, saying, "We endangered other runners, we impacted people going for PB’s [personal bests], we blocked people from getting water. And with the New York City Marathon being about everyone else, and about the community, I made it about myself."
Matthew Choi reported completing the marathon with an impressive time of 2:57:15, running at a pace of 6:44 per mile. While he achieved his personal goals, the actions surrounding his run have overshadowed this commendable feat. Post-race, he received notification of his disqualification via email from the New York Road Runners, notifying him of the serious repercussions of his actions.
Choi accepted the ban without hesitation, declaring on social media, "Although there’s an opportunity to appeal it, I’m not going to. I made my bed, so I’m gonna lay in it. This isn’t the first time being called out for using e-bikes to shoot content, but it stops here. It won’t happen again. My word is my bond." His acceptance of responsibility was seen as an important part of moving forward from this incident, as many spectators noted the disruption his crew caused on the course.
Further adding to his troubles, Choi's partnership with Runna, a training app, has also been terminated due to this incident. The organization stated, "We have decided to terminate our relationship with Matt effective immediately," indicating the far-reaching consequences of his actions on his professional relationships as well.
This incident has ignited discussions about accountability and the responsibilities of influencers and public figures. With the rise of social media, many influencers have found themselves facing consequences for their actions, and Choi's story is just one of many highlighting this growing trend. The 2024 New York City Marathon boasted over 55,000 participants and more than 2 million spectators. Yet, the dominant narrative stemming from the event will revolve around Matthew Choi's significant lapse in judgment, reminding us all of the importance of doing things the right way, particularly when you have the eyes of so many upon you.
