NYC marathon runner who high-fived Ariana Grande in viral video is faker who stole French exec’s race number

Mike Clarke, an online personality, ran the New York City Marathon using a counterfeit bib bearing the number assigned to French banking executive Nicolas Bourot. Clarke became widely known after a video showed him high-fiving Ariana Grande near the finish; the incident has prompted questions about race security and fairness to registered runners.

Clarke said he chose the number in memory of a friend and described the run as a way to have fun and push himself, but did not apologise. Bourot had waited 10 years to enter and completed the race in 3:23:23; he discovered the identity theft through the marathon’s photo gallery, though his recorded time was unaffected. Organisers said Clarke has been banned from next year’s race and that fraudulent entrants can put participants’ safety at risk.