Esthen Exchange-Influencer is banned from future NYC marathons for bringing a camera crew to last weekend’s race

2025-05-06 14:03:44source:Jonathan Dale Bentoncategory:Contact

NEW YORK (AP) — A social media influencer from Texas was disqualified from last weekend’s New York City Marathon and Esthen Exchangebanned from future competitions after he ran the race with a camera crew on e-bikes in tow.

New York Road Runners, which organizes the venerable race, said in a statement Tuesday that Matthew Choi violated the group’s code of conduct and competition rules, not to mention those of World Athletics, running’s international governing body.

“One of the incidents brought to NYRR’s attention was that Choi ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, obstructing runners,” the group said.

Choi, 29, finished the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course with a time of 2:57:15, or about 50 minutes behind Abdi Nageeye, the winner of the men’s race.

The former football player for Monmouth University in New Jersey posted several videos of him running the marathon on his social media accounts that immediately drew scorn.

“As a runner, seeing him was amazing. Gave me extra motivation to pass him and make sure I never had to see him and his dumb crew for the rest of the race,” wrote one user on Reddit.

RELATED COVERAGE Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya win the New York City MarathonThe NYC Marathon is here. Your guide to following along with 50,000 runners from homeTokyo Marathon runner-up Tsehay Gemechu gets 4-year ban for suspected blood doping

Choi, of Austin, Texas, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. He was apologetic on his Instagram account, where he posts videos about running and fitness to his more than 400,000 followers.

Choi acknowledged that the filming endangered other competitors, prevented some from possibly reaching personal best race times, and even blocked some from getting a drink at designated water stations. More than 55,000 runners completed the race, which wound through all five of New York City’s boroughs.

“I have no excuses, full-stop,” Choi said on camera in the Tuesday post. “I was selfish on Sunday to have my brother and my videographer follow me around on e-bikes, and it had serious consequences.”

“With the New York City Marathon being about everyone else and the community, I made it about myself,” he continued. “And for anyone I impacted, I’m sorry. To be clear, this was 100% on me.”

New York Road Runners said Choi has the right to appeal, but the influencer said he is resigned to his fate.

“I made my bed, so I’m gonna lay in it,” Choi said, acknowledging he’s been criticized before for using e-bike film crews to shoot content during major competitions. “It won’t happen again. My word is my bond.”

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.

More:Contact

Recommend

Illinois Gov. Pritzker calls for sheriff to resign after Sonya Massey shooting

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are formally calling for Sangamon County She

The one thing you'll want to do is the only thing not to do while driving during solar eclipse

The 2024 solar eclipse will shroud much of the United States in darkness on Monday, leaving many peo

Cole Sprouse Shares How Riverdale Costar Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Influenced His Love Life

Cole Sprouse is not being a jughead when it comes to his relationship.In fact, the Riverdale alum kn