Amazing Moments in Olympic History: Joan Benoit

The women's marathon was added to the list of events at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, and on Aug. 5, 1984, American marathoner Joan Benoit made her mark on history when she became the first gold medalist in the event.

The 5-3, 105-pound runner packed a big punch, finishing the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 52 seconds, which was the third-fastest time ever for a female marathoner. The then 27-year-old defeated 1983 world champion Grete Waitz -- a Norwegian runner who had never lost a competitive marathon -- with ease, inspiring women everywhere to take up some form of running.

Although her victory in the Games was so commanding, Benoit had some difficulties to overcome along the way. On April 25, 1984 -- 17 days before the Olympic Trials -- she underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. Some athletes might have thrown in the towel and commenced training in preparation for the 1988 Games, but Benoit prevailed. Not only did she recuperate, but she also won the Trials with a 2:31.04 and earned a ticket to Los Angeles.

The Cape Elizabeth, Maine, native grew up during a time when girls were not often viewed as competitive athletes. Women of her era often had to fight their way into the athletic world.  

But nothing would dissuade Benoit. She knew she was athletic, and she had no problem showing that off. She was an avid skier until she broke her leg flying down the slopes during a slalom race when she was 15. Running was prescribed as part of her recovery, and the rest, as they say, is history.

That was an important year for Benoit because it also marked the year that Title IX, a federal mandate opening the sports world to girls and women across the United States, was passed. Benoit became a standout on the new girls' track team at her high school and was the only girl to run cross country on the boys' team.

Without much professional assistance, Benoit began to train herself. She built herself up from the mile, to the 5K, to the 10K and all the way up to the marathon. Soon she was running up to 200 miles every week.

At the Boston Marathon in 1979, the second marathon ever that Benoit ran, the 21-year-old set a female course record when she finished in 2:35.15. After that, she returned to Bowdoin College to complete her senior year and graduate.

Her training regimen was so intense that in 1981, she was required to have surgery on the Achilles' tendon in each foot to relieve chronic heel pain.

Instead of resting after her surgery, Benoit resumed training approximately one month later. The following year she competed at the Nike OTC Marathon in Oregon. She finished with a 2:26.11, setting an American women's record.

In addition to training for marathons, Benoit served as the long-distance coach for the women's track team at Boston University from 1981 to 1984. She returned to the Boston Marathon in 1983, setting a course and world record for women when she ran a 2:22.43. In 1985, Benoit ran in America's Marathon in Chicago and finished with yet another record-breaking triumph with a time of 2:21.21.

Based on times in previous marathons, Benoit qualified for the Olympic Trials in 1996, 2000 and 2008 at ages 38, 42 and 50, respectively, but her times weren't fast enough to land her a spot on any of those U.S. Olympic Teams.

Benoit married in 1984, and she and her husband have two children. Running is still a part of her life, but it's not the main priority anymore. However, the 52-year-old is still setting records for her age group. In fact, she is slated to run the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday (Nov. 1) in an attempt to set a women's master's record. Once a role model to female athletes, she now is an inspiration to athletes of an older generation.

Tags: Amazing Moments, Joan Benoit, USA Track and Field