Today is the birthday of a legend in the running world, a woman who made history; Rosa Mota! She was the first athlete from Portugal to win an Olympic gold medal. Mota was also the first woman to win multiple Olympic marathon medals as well as being the only woman to be the reigning European, World, and Olympic champion at the same time.
Her first marathon race was at the European Championships of 1982, this of course was the inaugural event for the women’s marathon. She won in a time of 2:36:04 over one of the favorites, Ingrid Kristiansen, who placed third in 2:36:39. She would repeat this victory in 1986 with a time of 2:28:38. In 1990, she would also take home hold in a time of 2:31:27.
She part of the first Women's Olympic Marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The race consisted of 50 runners came from 28 countries. Rosa Mota took home the bronze medal with a time of 2:26:57.
A year later in 1985, she ran a time of 2:23:29 placing 3rd at the Chicago Marathon. She previous had won the Chicago Marathon in 1983 with a time of 2:31:12. Her time of 2:23:29 would remain her personal best in the marathon.
In 1987 and again in 1988, she won the Boston Marathon making her a two-time champion in back to back years. She ran a time of 2:25:21 and 2:24:30 respectively. In 1990, she would again win the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:25:24.
1988 was still a special year as she won Olympic Gold in the marathon. It was the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; she ran a time of 2:25:40 to become the first athlete from Portugal to win an Olympic Gold.
Mota ran 21 marathon races between 1982 and 1992. She averaged two marathons a year for a decade and won 14 of those races.
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