Cause for Celebration: Joan Benoit Samuelson
Through our annual Cause for Celebration, The Steamboat Classic Presented by PNC celebrates the countless impressive feats of athleticism in the sport of running. This week we are proud to introduce Joan Benoit Samuelson, a true epitome of vigor and competitiveness throughout a lifespan.
Joan was a marathon connoisseur known for constantly raising the bar. In her senior year of track and cross country at Bowdoin College, she won the 1979 Boston Marathon in 2:35:15, setting a new American record. Four years later, she returned to Boston and smashed the world record by 2 minutes, coming in at 2:22:43.
The next year she sent a message to the running world when she won the 1984 inaugural women’s Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles in stunning fashion. Only five miles into the race, she made a bold move and broke away from the pack, running solo for the remainder of the race and cementing herself in history.
Joan is a shining example of lifelong commitment to health and wellness through healthy competition and raising the bar. In fact, in her late 50’s Samuelson was still racing at a high level, consistently clocking sub-3-hour marathons.
Cheers to Joan and all levels of Triumphs of Women in Running!
Photo Credit: VerywellFit.com
