Legless competitor completes marathon

A VETERAN soldier who lost his legs to a mortar round in Vietnam finished the Los Angeles Marathon on Saturday, a week after he began, to the cheers of supporters and passers-by.

Police closed down the last half block of the 26.2-mile course so Bob Wieland, 57, propelled only by his hands, could cross the finish line in the middle of a downtown street.

As about 150 people huddled around, Wieland raised a hand and pointed his index finger in the air as a marathon official placed a medal around his neck.