DUBLIN - September 14, 2017 - Long distance running is never easy. But for twenty long-distance runners participating in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend, just toeing the starting line is a remarkable achievement. This unique collection of athletes who benefit from medical technology will be honored as the 2017 "Medtronic Global Champions" during Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend, Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2017.

This year's team includes runners from five continents and 13 different countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. Each runner has benefited from medical technology to treat conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders.

"Medtronic Global Champions personify perseverance and resilience. They are passionate and empowered individuals who not only proactively manage their own health needs, but serve as an inspiration to all, demonstrating that a medical condition does not mean an end to an active lifestyle," said Rob Clark, Medtronic vice president of Global Communications and Corporate Marketing.

The health conditions managed by the Global Champions athletes include heart disease (such as bradycardia and valve disorders), diabetes, gastroparesis, obesity, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Their ages range from 22 to 60. On October 1, ten Global Champions will run in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and ten will run the Medtronic TC 10 Mile race. The races begin in Minneapolis and finish near the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The 2017 Medtronic Global Champions are:
MARATHON PARTICIPANTS
Michelle Crosby - Victoria, Australia
Michelle, 60, has a pacemaker to manage her heart disease.

Ernesto Luis Espinola Espinosa - Tamaulipas, Mexico
Ernesto, 42, received a gastric bypass to manage obesity.

Shawne Flaherty - Edmonton, Alberta
Shawne, 48, has a pulmonary valve to manage heart disease.

Fridleifur Fridleifsson - Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Fridleifur, 47, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to manage heart disease.

Marcello Grussu - Oristano, Italy
Marcello, 58, has an insulin pump to manage type 1 diabetes.

Bruno Helman - São Paulo, Brazil
Bruno, 23, has an insulin pump to manage type 1 diabetes.

Lucy Lim - Perak, Malaysia
Lucy, 54, has a pacemaker to help manage heart disease.

Samantha Lloyd - Cranbrook, Kent, United Kingdom
Samantha, 45, has a pacemaker to manage heart disease.

Kevin Schmuckal - Havertown, Pennsylvania
Kevin, 43, received a mechanical thrombectomy using a stent retriever to treat a stroke.

Jen York - West Saint Paul, Minnesota
Jen, 26, has an insulin pump and sensor to manage type 1 diabetes.

10 MILE PARTICIPANTS
Sean Doyle - Huddersfield, England
Sean, 49, has a coronary artery stent to manage heart disease.

Karin Knauer - Vastra Gotalands Ian, Sweden
Karen, 41, has a pacemaker to manage heart disease.

Torie Miele - Havertown, Pennsylvania
Torie, 27, has a gastric electric stimulator to help control certain symptoms of gastroparesis.

Vincent Myers - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Vincent, 40, has an insulin pump to manage type 1 diabetes.

Stefy Marlien Alfrien Rompas - North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Stefy, 45, received a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device to treat Parkinson's disease.

Julia Snigorska - Opolskie, Poland
Julia, 29, has an insulin pump to manage type 1 diabetes.

Tiffany Sorber - Wake Forest, North Carolina
Tiffany, 39, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to manage long QT syndrome and heart disease.

Rob Steinberg - Scottsdale, Arizona
Rob, 47, has four stents to manage heart disease.

Jose Luis Morales Urbina - Estado De Mexico, Mexico
Jose, 45, has an insulin pump to manage type 1 diabetes.

Xin Xiong - Chengdu City, China
Xin, 22, has a pacemaker to manage heart disease.

Medtronic Global Champions participants are selected through a cooperative effort between Medtronic and Twin Cities In Motion, the nonprofit organization that operates the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Additional information about the 2017 Medtronic Global Champions team can be found at http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/about/global-champions/meet-the-champions.html, or visit the Medtronic Global Champions Facebook page.

About Medtronic Global Champions
The Medtronic Global Champions program recognizes athletes from around the world who have received medical devices or solutions to treat health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders, obesity, gastrointestinal or urological disorders and continue to demonstrate an active lifestyle and passion for running. There is no restriction on the manufacturer of the runner's medical technology to be eligible for consideration.

About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Twin Cities In Motion (TCM) has been the region's premier running event company since 1982. Its mission is simple - ignite everyone's inner athlete. TCM is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit that organizes 27 races throughout the year, including the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, a Top 10 U.S. marathon, to provide opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and experiences to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Collectively, TCM and its charity partners that fundraise at TCM events give back more than $1.3 million annually to a variety of causes.

About Medtronic
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 84,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

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Contacts:
Jeffrey Trauring
Medtronic
+1-763-505-0159

Danielle Pierce
Tunheim
+1-952-851-1602