Grete Waitz was the first woman to win the New York City Marathon three times.
Waitz won New York in 1978, 1979 and 1980, becoming the first woman to claim three victories in the race. She went on to win the event nine times, a record that made her one of the most influential marathoners in history.
Her first New York victory in 1978 was especially notable because she set a women’s world best of 2:32:30. She had originally traveled to New York expecting to run a shorter distance, but changed plans and entered the marathon. Her success helped raise the profile of women’s long-distance running.
Waitz was Norwegian, not American, despite the race taking place in New York. She also won the first World Athletics Championships women’s marathon in 1983, adding a global title to her remarkable New York record.