After a car accident in 2005 left him with severe spinal cord injuries, Adam Gorlitsky was paralyzed from the waist down. However, just a few weeks ago, Gorlitsky completed the Charleston Marathon in 33 hours, 50 minutes, and 23 seconds, claiming a new world record for his time finishing a marathon in an exoskeleton suit.
Using the ReWalk Robotic Exoskeleton, Gorlitsky took his training — which lasted about a year — very seriously, having also attempted the Los Angeles Marathon the previous March.
The first exoskeleton approved by the FDA for rehabilitation and personal use in the US, ReWalk's wearable technology provides hip and knee movement, and can even allow users to climb and descend stairs.
Gorlitsky is now on a “million-step tour”, planning to take one million steps in races across the United States.
Gorlitsky's achievement showcases the powerful combination of human resilience and enabling technologies. As wearable exoskeletons and brain-machine interfaces continue to advance, we will witness an increasing number of remarkable use cases in rehabilitation and enhanced mobility.
Text by Peter Diamandis