Current:Home > InvestInfluencer Matt Choi Banned From New York City Marathon For Running With E-Bikes -WealthPro Academy
Influencer Matt Choi Banned From New York City Marathon For Running With E-Bikes
View
Date:2025-04-11 16:13:44
Matt Choi has crossed his final New York Marathon finish line.
The running influencer has been banned from the New York City Marathon for life after running in the annual race Nov. 3 while being followed by two E-Bikes with people filming him.
“After a review and due to violations of World Athletics rules, and New York Road Runners’ Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition,” a Nov. 5 statement from the organization who runs the marathon reads, per Runner’s World, “NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and removed him from the results. He has been banned from any future NYRR races.”
Later, the Austin, Texas-based runner—who has over 800,000 followers across his social media accounts—shared a statement reacting to his ban.
“I f--ked up,” Choi—whose disqualified marathon time was just over two hours and 57 minutes—said in a Nov. 5 Instagram video. “This wasn’t a video I was planning on making, but I have no excuses. Full stop. I was selfish on Sunday to have my brother and videographer follow me around on the course on E-bikes and it had serious consequences.”
Indeed, the influencer echoed sentiments of other online users who complained about his behavior at the annual New York running event, including those sharing how bikers impeded other marathon runners.
“We endangered other runners,” he continued. “We impacted people going for PBs, we blocked people from getting water. With the New York City Marathon being about everyone else and being about the community—I made it about myself. For anyone I impacted, I’m sorry.”
The 29-year-old emphasized that he was the only one to blame for the controversy—not his brother nor his videographer.
“I got overzealous about getting all the shots,” he added, noting that he wouldn’t try to appeal the decision, “I made my bed so I’m going to lay in it. This isn’t the first time being called out on using E-Bikes to shoot content, but it won’t happen again. My word is my bond.”
Although Choi had run in the 2023 Austin Marathon with E-Bike filming—and received backlash at the time—he emphasized in his recent video's caption, “E-Bikes don’t belong in races.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (452)
Related
- 3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
- Czech police say people have been killed in a shooting in downtown Prague
- Texas sheriff on enforcing SB4 immigration law: It's going to be impossible
- How 'Iron Claw' star Zac Efron learned pro wrestling 'is not as easy as it looks on TV'
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- Transfer portal king Deion Sanders again reels in top transfer recruiting class
- Could Colorado lose commitment from top offensive lineman? The latest on Jordan Seaton
- Apple loses latest bid to thwart patent dispute threatening to stop U.S. sales of two watch models
- British swimmer Adam Peaty: There are worms in the food at Paris Olympic Village
- Kevin McAllister's uncle's NYC townhouse from 'Home Alone 2' listed for $6.7 million
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- An Alabama Landfill Has Repeatedly Violated State Environmental Laws. State Regulators Waited Almost 20 Years to Crackdown
- Oklahoma judge rules Glynn Simmons, man who wrongfully spent nearly 50 years in prison for murder, is innocent
- Shohei Ohtani is the AP Male Athlete of the Year for the 2nd time in 3 years
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Man who killed 83-year-old woman as a teen gets new shorter sentence
- People's Choice Country Awards 2024 will return to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House
- Comedian Jo Koy is picked to host the Golden Globes as award season kicks off
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
‘You are the father!’ Maury Povich declares to Denver Zoo orangutan
Wisconsin Republican proposal to legalize medical marijuana coming in January
Ex-Alabama prison officer gets 7 years behind bars for assaulting prisoners
Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
Cameron Diaz says we should normalize sleep divorces. She's not wrong.
Ex-NBA player allegedly admitted to fatally strangling woman in Las Vegas, court documents show
Watch this 9-year-old overwhelmed with emotion when she opens a touching gift