Grete Waitz - RIP

[canveyshrimper]

I've just read that Grete Waitz has passed away from cancer at the young age of 57. She won two London Marathon's and 9 in New York, and was probably responsible for women to compete in the longer distances. IIRC up until 1984 the longest distance women ran on the track was 3000m.

RIP

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I've just read that Grete Waitz has passed away from cancer at the young age of 57. She won two London Marathon's and 9 in New York, and was probably responsible for women to compete in the longer distances. IIRC up until 1984 the longest distance women ran on the track was 3000m.
RIP

People warned that if women would run further they'd die.

They won't be laughing now.

 

[Firestorm]

I've just read that Grete Waitz has passed away from cancer at the young age of 57. She won two London Marathon's and 9 in New York, and was probably responsible for women to compete in the longer distances. IIRC up until 1984 the longest distance women ran on the track was 3000m.

RIP

Anything over 200M was not included in the olympics until to 1960 , after some competitors collapsed in the 800M in 1928 (the first Olympics to hold womens events)
the 1500 was added in 1972
3000 in 1980
and the marathon in 1984

RIP Grete, a true distance running Great

 

[Uncle Leo]

Anything over 200M was not included in the olympics until to 1960 , after some competitors collapsed in the 800M in 1928 (the first Olympics to hold womens events)
the 1500 was added in 1972
3000 in 1980
and the marathon in 1984

RIP Grete, a true distance running Great

200m? Wow. :stunned: I knew they'd kept the longer distance from the women for a long time but I'd no idea it was that bad!

Must confess I'd not heard of her, but reading/seeing some of the reports these last 24 hours she was clearly a very special lady.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Never heard of her to my shame. RIP....57 is no age.

 

[canveyshrimper]

200m? Wow. :stunned: I knew they'd kept the longer distance from the women for a long time but I'd no idea it was that bad!

Must confess I'd not heard of her, but reading/seeing some of the reports these last 24 hours she was clearly a very special lady.

The 800m was added to the Olympic programme in 1964 and won by Ann Packer.
As Firestorm said the 1500m added for Munich 1972, and the Marathon in 1984 however it was still a long time before the 5000m & 10000m were added to the Olympic programme,

 

[Firestorm]

200m? Wow. :stunned: I knew they'd kept the longer distance from the women for a long time but I'd no idea it was that bad!

Must confess I'd not heard of her, but reading/seeing some of the reports these last 24 hours she was clearly a very special lady.

When I was doing a lot of distance stuff (early 80's) she was one of the leading women, Along with the American Joan Benoit. She set the World record 4 time between 1978 and 1983 before her fellow Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen started to dominate

 

[Uncle Leo]

When I was doing a lot of distance stuff (early 80's) she was one of the leading women, Along with the American Joan Benoit. She set the World record 4 time between 1978 and 1983 before her fellow Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen started to dominate

Kristiansen I do remember. In my mind she won London every year for ages and a quick search on Wiki bears that out - four wins out of five 1984-88, with Waitz winning in the middle of those years. Hats off.