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The meaning behind the statue of the tortoise and the hare at the Boston Marathon

The bronze statue of a tortoise and a hare is a metaphor for marathon runners who, though different, always strive towards the finish line with their own pace and goals.

On the third Monday of April each year, tens of thousands of qualified runners from around the world take to the streets of the Boston Marathon – the oldest running race on the planet.

After sprinting, speeding or slowing down 42km, they will cross the finish line in front of the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street. A block away is Copley Square – where runners can see two bronze statues of turtles and rabbits, used to honor those who have completed the Boston Marathon.





Bronze statue of hare and tortoise in Boston.

Bronze statue of a tortoise and a hare in Boston. Image: Wikipedia

These are two statues sculpted by Nancy Schön, a local artist and marathon runner. Nancy wanted to create a work of art to honor marathon runners, but it was hard to find an image that represented all of their different genders, colors or nationalities.

Therefore, the image of the tortoise and the hare in Aesop’s fable was used to represent the image of running legs around the world. Rabbits represent the images of elite athletes, professional runners, while the tortoise symbolizes disabled athletes, amateurs… diligently running in wheelchairs along the track marathon in Boston every spring.

Two bronze statues of tortoise and rabbit were cast at Chelsea and brought to Boston in May 1995, officially launched in 1996 on the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon.

Nancy Schön shared, the images of turtles and rabbits are “metaphorical” for different portraits on each marathon. The most elite athletes will sprint across the finish line, while many struggle to finish. Others run for charity, or as a personal challenge, or just to enjoy the fun of completing the race. Many people even continue to run for hours after the crowd has reached the finish line. The sculptor emphasized that there are many ways to win a race, it is not necessary to be the first to cross the finish line.

The bronze statue of a tortoise and a hare on Boylston Street is child-friendly art. They are also a reminder that speed doesn’t always mean absolutes. For a runner, sometimes persisting in stride, enduring hardship and refusing to give up is another “face” of victory.

Thao Mien (According to The next face blog)

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