Samuelson, Joan Benoit (1957–)

views updated

Samuelson, Joan Benoit (1957–)

American long-distance runner. Name variations: Joan Benoit. Born Joan Benoit, May 16, 1957, in Cape Elizabeth, ME; Bowdoin College, BA in history and environmental studies, 1979; m. Scott Samuelson, 1984.

Placed 1st in Boston Marathon, with a time of 2:35:15 (1979); placed 1st and set a world record, Boston Marathon, 2:22:43 (1983); placed 1st, Olympic Marathon Trials, 2:31:04 (1984); won a gold medal at Los Angeles Olympics (1984) in the 1st Olympic marathon for women; set world and American records, Chicago Women's Marathon, 2:21:21 (1985). Received Jessie Owens Award (1984); named Women's Sports Foundation Amateur Sportswoman of the Year (1984).

See also autobiography (with Sally Baker) Running Tide (Knopf, 1987); and Women in World History.