Samantha was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 2. Doctors had very low expectations of what Samantha would be capable of in the future. They told her mother, Karina, that Samantha would never be able to participate in sports or physical activities due to her low muscle tone and poor coordination. After years of therapy and her family’s support, Samantha proved the doctors wrong and has become an avid marathon runner. At the age of 18, Samantha became the youngest ever autistic woman to complete the New York City marathon in 2021 with her mother right by her side.

For Karina, running started as a way to cope. As a single parent, raising an autistic daughter alone was a challenge. Pounding the pavements was a way for her to find a little bit of space to clear her head to make sure she was able to support Samantha with everything she needed.

Slowly, running began to be something more serious and Karina started taking part in competitions with Samantha, and acting as her cheering squad. She loved to travel with her mum and cheer her on, including when Karina took on her first marathon – the 2016 New York City Marathon. As Karina crossed the finish line, exhausted and elated, Samantha surprised her by saying, “Someday I would love to run a marathon with you.”

In the five years that followed, Samantha started taking small runs around their neighbourhood in their home city of Orlando, Florida. These small runs turned into 5k and then 10k races, gradually increasing over time until last year, at the age of just 18, Samantha finally crossed the finish line at the southern tip of New York’s Central Park hand-in-hand with her mum.

“Autistic children have so many talents. They just need opportunities for them to shine. Running has been life-changing for both of us. It’s our biggest form of therapy, but it has also boosted Samantha’s coordination and – even more importantly – her self-esteem.” - Karina Rodriguez

Samantha says her favourite parts of running are crossing the finish line and receiving her medals, so she can’t wait for the chance to be part of #TeamAutistica at this year’s TCS London Marathon.

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