Waitz, Grete (1953–)

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Waitz, Grete (1953–)

Norwegian marathon runner. Born Grete Andersen, Oct 1, 1953, in Oslo, Norway; m. Jack Waitz, 1975.

At 16, won Norwegian Junior title in 400 and 800 meters; set a European Junior record in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:17 (1971); competed in Olympics (1972) but failed to medal; set a record in the 3,000 meters (1975); won inaugural World Cup in 3,000 meters, placed 5th in the 1,500 meters in European championships, and won 5 World cross-country titles in Norway (1977); finished 1st in the NY marathon (1978), taking 2 minutes off world record; won 9 out of 11 NY marathons (1978–88); took 5 minutes off her 1978 record, becoming 1st woman to run a marathon in under 2:30 (1979); won London Marathon and 1st World Track and Field championship marathon in Helsinki(1983); was an Olympic silver medalist in Los Angeles (1984); formed Grete Waitz Foundation to help teenage girl runners. Selected Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports magazine; voted best female distance runner of the past 25 years by Runner's World (1991).

See also Women in World History.