Rhian Ramos denies cheating at New York City Marathon: 'Liars and fake news are everywhere'
Rhian Ramos squashed allegations that she and her boyfriend, Sam Verzosa, cheated when they participated in the 2024 New York City Marathon.
In case you missed it, the celebrity couple recently shared that they managed to complete the 42-km race that was organized to raise funds for the operation of more than 100 children with cleft palate. While some congratulated them for the achievement, others accused them of not completing the marathon fairly as they had no recorded times for the 18.6, 20, and 21.7-mile checkpoints.
On her Instagram account, Rhian took the time to clear up the issue as she shared an email she received from the marathon's organizer New York Road Runners.
"It looks like both you and Samuel fell behind the sweep and the timing points at 30km, 20 miles and 35km were removed from the course as the streets reopened before you passed through. In Central Park, we can stay open longer, so you were picked up again at 40km," the email read.
The organizers clarified, "We certainly are not holding those timing points against you; you are both still listed as official finishers."
The actress also included a clip of her and Sam reaching the 20-mile marker.
In the caption, Rhian expressed her disappointment at people who were trying to spread misinformation "to get 15 minutes of fame."
"It's so easy to send an email, verify facts, and get your story straight before trying to ruin someone's name for a little attention—especially when it's your job to do so," she stressed.
"If you work in media, publications, or law, you do have a much bigger responsibility to not spread fake news, and it's much more disappointing from people in that line of business to publicize lies," she added. "But I believe that everyone can also benefit from a little fact checking and common sense."
The actress went on to clear up that she and Sam are not professional runners, and that the New York Marathon was actually the first one she participated in.
"Everyone said I was crazy to do it, especially without a professional trainer. But given my schedule, I basically just relied on mental strength and making sure that I kept a fairly active lifestyle before actually flying to the US," Rhian shared.
She further clarified that they "didn't do it to compete with anyone's times."
"We just had to make sure we could finish it without passing out or getting injured, because above everything, we were doing it for charity. By completing each of our runs, Sam and I raised money for children with clefts to get proper treatment and essential operations," the local star highlighted.
"Even if we were pretty much limping to the finish line, it was this cause that kept us from quitting and made this experience one of the best things I've ever done! And I'd totally do it again too," she continued.
Rhian reiterated her ill feelings at how "liars and fake news are everywhere."
"I can't fathom why someone would try to take that away from us and our cause," she questioned. "Crab mentality is such a common term in this country, but can we Filipinos not be known for that anymore? Can we be known for pushing one another to achieve goals and make dreams come true?"
She ended her lengthy statement with an encouraging message: "I'd like to use this moment to encourage you that if we could do this, you can do anything... and even if 'chismis is fun,' the truth can be fun too."
In the comments section, many social media users stood by her and defended her and Sam against critics.
"Anyone can run a marathon. And most of the time, it’s for a bigger cause. I appreciate your cause and your story is inspiring. And that is what matters," one user wrote.
Another commented, "Running 26.2 miles is such a rare feat that takes dedication, which is why it's a special accomplishment for those who do it."
This year's New York City Marathon took place on Nov. 3 and had more than 55,000 runners.
