Meb Keflezighi greets victim's family at finish line
Olympic runner Meb Keflezighi stopped at the Boston Marathon finish line to greet the parents of eight-year-old bomb victim Martin Richard on Monday.
Keflezighi took the time at the end of the race, to kiss the hands of Denise and Bill Richard whose son Martin died in the 2013 bomb attack.
The American runner, who said he still keeps in touch with the Richard family, said the loss of Martin was 'personal.'
Olympic runner Meb Keflezighi stopped at the Boston Marathon finish line to kiss the hands of Denise and Bill Richard whose son Martin died in the 2013 bomb attack
The American runner, who said he still keeps in touch with the Richard family, said the loss of Martin was 'personal' (the Richards family lean over to greet Keflezighi at Monday's race)
He 'was a beautiful little kid. . . with a beautiful smile,' said Keflezighi, who had also been in the crowd in 2013 when brothers Dzhokhar and Tamelarn Tsarnaev detonated their pressure cooker bombs near the finish line, killing three and injuring 260.
'I could only imagine it happening to my 8-year-old daughter. It was personal,' he told RunnersWorld.
Patrick Downes, who lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, also greeted the Richard family, after he competed in the handcycle division of the 121st Boston Marathon on Monday.
Keflezighi, who said that this was to be his final Boston Marathon, revealed he had become good friends with Bill Richard and would often chat to the family on text.
'I try to be there for them as much as I can,' he said.
The 42-year-old runner, who came 13th in Monday's race, admitted he struggled in the marathon.
But the cheers of the crowd helped propel him on and he was eventually 'just delighted to come to that finish line.'
Martin (pictured) had been a spectator at the 2013 Boston Marathon when he was killed in the blast
Patrick Downes, survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, also greeted the family of bombing victim Martin Richard after he competed in the handcycle division of the 121st Boston Marathon on Monday
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, right, stands with the family of Martin Richard, one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing victims, near the finish line of the 121st Boston Marathon
Denise and Bill Richard, were stool with their daughter, Jane, and oldest son, Henry, at the finish line
The family of Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard looks over Edna Kiplagat of Kenya as she poses with her children Wendy and Carlos after winning the women's division of the Boston Marathon
'My body is aching pretty bad right now,' he admitted.
Keflezighi has just one final marathon, in New York City in November, then plans to hang up his running shoes forever and next; 'Ice cream! Every day!'
The marathon marks four years since the deadly attacks on April 15, 2013.
Quiet remembrances took place Saturday, on what is now known as One Boston Day, to remember the victims.
Family members of some of the victims, along with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, placed a wreath at the site of the first bomb blast on Saturday.
Bill Richard placed a large wreath on the Boylston Street sidewalk where 8-year-old Martin, died in the blast.
Richard stood Saturday with his wife, Denise, their daughter, Jane, and oldest son, Henry, in silence as bagpipers performed 'Amazing Grace.'
The Boston Globe reports he shared a hug with a family member of Lu Lingzi, a Boston University graduate student from China who was killed in the second blast.
On Saturday, the family had attended a memorial service in honor of the Boston Marathon victims
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh arrived with the family members for a wreath laying ceremony on the fourth anniversary of the bombings, Saturday
Family members of Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard and Lu Lingzhi walk down Boylston Street towards the finish line after laying a wreath Saturday
The family of 29-year-old Krystle Campbell placed a second wreath about 200 yards away where the Medford native was killed in the first blast.
Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker took part in the wreath-laying ceremonies for what is now called 'One Boston Day.'
Sean Collier, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer, was killed later while struggling with the bombers as they tried to steal his gun.
Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in an ensuing standoff with police. His younger brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was convicted on federal charges and sentenced to death.
The attacks have inspired several movies, including the Mark Wahlberg film 'Patriots Day.'
On the eve of the anniversary, volunteers planted thousands of daffodils along the marathon course in solidarity.
Three spectators were killed and more than 260 others wounded when two bombs planted near the finish line exploded on April 15, 2013, spraying shrapnel into the crowds