Villanova University distance runner Matthew Nawn has gained national attention for his determination to never quit when he was seen crawling to the finish line at the Boston Marathon.
The viral video has been seen more than 725,000 times, writes Owen Hewitt for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Nawn collapsed less than 30 feet from the finish line last Monday but wanted to finish before the medics got to him, so he crawled to the finish line.
“I saw guys collapse at Mile 20 and Mile 22,” Nawn said. “They would collapse, and then medical would pull them off the course and wouldn’t let them finish. I’m 15, 30 feet away from the finish line [thinking], ‘Don’t let them pull you off the course. Get across the line before they touch you.’”
Nawn is studying electrical engineering at Villanova University and is part of the Naval Reserve Training Corps program.
A high school runner, Nawn opted not to run for the Villanova college team but instead trained for marathons, hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
“The Boston Marathon, that’s the pinnacle of the sport,” Nawn said. “So why not try for it?”
Read more about Nawn’s Boston Marathon race and his reaction to how it all ended in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in May 2025.
