Richard Salaño refused to let a raging fever stop him. The Filipino marathoner battled flu symptoms and in-race vomiting to complete the men’s marathon at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, crossing the finish line through sheer will alone.

Salaño clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 34 seconds, good for 14th place. He finished just under 10 minutes behind champion Ichitaka Yamashita of Japan, who won gold in 2:10:49.

A Body Breaking Down Mid-Race

Salaño was still recovering from a prolonged flu heading into race day. He relied on paracetamol just to control his fever and make it to the starting line at all.

The illness didn’t stay contained once the race began. His in-race fueling disagreed with his weakened body, causing him to vomit during the marathon while he kept pushing forward.

Salaño addressed his supporters afterward on social media, offering an apology despite his condition. “Sorry Ma’am and Sir! I try my best today pero kulang pa din. I am not fully recovered, nagtake lang ng paracetamol para malabanan ang lagnat,” he wrote.

He also acknowledged the toll the sickness has taken on the team. “Hindi namin gusto matrangkaso ng matagal, pasensya na sa inyo,” Salaño added in the same post.

Illness Spreads Through PH Marathon Camp

Salaño wasn’t the only Filipino runner affected by the outbreak in Nagoya. His teammate, Philippine record-holder Sonny Wagdos, withdrew from the marathon entirely a day earlier due to the same illness.

The back-to-back setbacks highlight how disruptive the sickness has been for the Philippine marathon squad heading into one of its biggest meets of the year.

In the women’s marathon, Filipina runner Artjoy Torregosa finished 14th with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 36 seconds. Bahrain’s Shitaye Habte won gold in that race, finishing in 2:27:31.

Despite the results, Salaño’s performance drew admiration rather than disappointment. Finishing a marathon while battling flu symptoms and in-race vomiting stands as a testament to his resilience on the world stage.