“Lucky Zoro’s” Quest to Complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors Continues in NYC
He may call himself “lucky,” but belief is what drives Batzorig “Zoro” Baasai’s success. The Achilles Mongolia athlete is on a mission to complete all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors within a calendar year.
When he was 29, Zoro fell asleep outside after a night of drinking with friends. The temperatures in Mongolia can be brutal and drop to as low as -40°F. His hands were frozen with severe frostbite, leading to amputation. There were moments after the tragic accident when he was suicidal.
“It took me 10 years to fully believe in myself again. I started calling myself ‘Lucky Zoro’ to break away from my previous life,” he says.
Joining Achilles in 2014 was a turning point. After he learned about Mongolia’s first female amputee blade runner and founder of the Mongolia chapter of Achilles International, O. Saranchuluun, Zoro decided to attend one of the chapter’s workouts. He’s been hooked ever since.
The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon changed Zoro’s life. “It was my very first full marathon. It changed my life attitude, increased my self-confidence, and made me realize how beautiful life is,” he says.
Zoro now supports Achilles Mongolia as a Workouts Manager and assists with marathon team training and organizes weekly hikes. From training in the below freezing Mongolian temperatures, to following a strict diet to help improve his health, nothing gets in Zoro’s way when it comes to staying committed to reaching his goals. Read a Q&A below.
How has Achilles impacted your life?
“The first time I participated in a 5K run with Achilles, I almost fainted, but the feeling of exhaustion while running and the exhilaration I felt after running was a completely new and amazing feeling for me. That’s when I knew that I found something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It helped me realize that I could not change the past, and that I could survive all the difficulties, and learn to do everything from scratch. Now it makes me so happy to see people become members of Achilles and get rid of bad habits, gain self-confidence, make new friends, and improve their health.”
Why do you enjoy running?
“I feel more confident and happy when I run. Since I’ve started running, I have made so many friends all over the world. Most importantly, when I run, my father feels calm, happy, and proud of me.”
What inspired you to take on all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
“I felt so much more confident knowing that Amraa, our coordinator of the Marathon tour project, really believed in me and encouraged me. That is what really pushed me to believe that I can do it. She said that she had done some research and that I could potentially be the first Mongolian with a disability to achieve all six stars.”
What advice would you give to other athletes living with a disability?
“Don’t feel down because you have a disability and don’t isolate yourself from others. You are the one and only amazing creation of Mother Nature that will never be repeated. Don’t compete with other people. Your main competitor is yourself. Hard days happen to everyone, so if you motivate yourself and train every single day to be your best, one day you will achieve what you want!”
In April, 2022, Zoro came in second place in his division at the Boston Marathon and achieved a PR at the 2022 Berlin Marathon with 3:01:14. This fall, he completed the Berlin, London and Chicago marathons back-to-back and can’t wait for the TCS New York City Marathon on November 6. He is hoping to receive an entry to the Tokyo Marathon to complete his sixth and final star.
“I hope that my achievement will encourage and motivate many people living with disabilities to restart their lives and change their daily routines,” Zoro says. “I want to show the world that people can overcome any difficulty if they believe in themselves. I also want to show people that family and friends who support you, are the most important thing to have in order to achieve any success. For me, my Achilles family is the main force behind my success, and I am so grateful for them!”
Want to get involved with Achilles like Zoro? Learn more about joining as an athlete with a disability here or as a volunteer guide here. Find a chapter near you.
Follow Achilles Mongolia on Facebook and Instagram, and make a donation to the chapter.
