Norwegian distance runner Grete Waitz has died after a six-year battle with cancer. She was 57 years old.
Waitz was the first great female distance runner. In 1975 she set a world record of 8:46.6 for 3000m and bettered it one year later with 8:45.4. In 1979, she won the World Cross-Country title in Limerick – I remember spotting her early the next morning out on a run. I think we were heading for our beds at the time. She won the world cross-country title five times; to young women athletes all over the world, she was an inspiration.
Waitz made her marathon debut in New York in 1978, setting a world best of 2:32:30 – this at a time when women had only started running longer distances. She went on to win New York a record nine times with two more world bests. Her fourth world record, 2:25:29, came in London in 1983 just months before she won the gold medal at the inaugural World Championships.
In 1984 she won Olympic silver, and two years later set a lifetime best of 2:24.54 when winning her second London Marathon.
Waitz accompanied Fred Lebow, her close friend and founder of the New York Marathon, on his final run in New York in 1992 after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The pair crossed the finish line with tears streaming down both their faces.
In 1998, I had the privilege of meeeting Grete at her own race, the Grete Waitz 5km Run in Oslo. She then brought a group of women to Dublin for our women’s mini marathon. She had time for everyone, was a great listener and had a fund of memorable yarns.
“Her biggest strength is just what a great, humble and nice person she is,” Paula Radcliffe has said in the past.
A truly exceptional human being. May she rest in peace.
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