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First-Ever Women’s Olympic Marathon Champion, Boston Marathon Winner Honored By Councilor O’Malley

Joan Benoit Samuelson, who previously held the women’s record for the Boston Marathon, was honored by the Boston City Council Wednesday. Jamaica Plain’s City Councilor, Matt O’Malley, authored a resolution proclaiming April 12, 2017, as Joan Benoit Samuelson Day in Boston.

Joan Benoit Samuelson won the first women’s Olympic marathon in 1984, which was the first year the women’s marathon was held in the Olympics.

“I am thrilled to be honoring Joan Benoit Samuelson for her outstanding running success and commitment to promoting health and wellness across the country,” said O’Malley, who has participated in the Boston Marathon seven times. “Benoit Samuelson has and continues to inspire competitive runners with her story.”

Benoit Samuelson entered the Boston Marathon as a relative unknown in 1979 and ended up winning with a record-setting time of 2:35:15. She won again in 1983, and set another course record with a time of 2:22:43, according to wikipedia.  That record time stood for another 11 years before it was broken.

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