Grete Waitz dies at 57

The great Norwegian Athlete Grete Waitz has died after fighting her battle against cancer.

Grete Waitz - The Marathon Legend

Just like her great friend Fred Lebouw, the founder of the New York City Marathon, Waitz succumbed to the scourge of cancer.Waitz was a 9 time winner of the New York City Marathon and it is this event that made her a household name. Known for her grace and charm, the loss of Waitz will be felt around the world and especially amongst marathon runners who watched in awe as she broke the World Record for the distance.

After a weekend of phenomenal marathon running at both London and Boston, Waitz leaves our hearts with a heavy burden knowing that a truly great champion of the sport is no longer.

The pain felt by her departure will be echoed by many

Waitz won the London Marathon on two occasions, the New York City Marathon no fewer than nine times and took the silver medal at the inaugural Women’s marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games, a year after winning the inaugural Women’s Marathon title at the first World Championships in Helsinki in 1983.

The great marathon career of Grete Waitz documented – Grete Waitz  Athletes of the Marathon

http://www.time-to-run.com/marathon/athletes/women/waitz.htm