View source for Grete Waitz

{{short description|Norwegian marathon runner and former world record holder}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name           = Grete Waitz<br>née Andersen
|image          = Grete Waitz (NYC Marathon, 2010) 2.jpg
|image_size     = 160 px
|caption        = Waitz in New York City in 2010
|headercolor    = lightsteelblue
|birth_date     = {{Birth date|1953|10|1|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Oslo]], Norway
|death_date     = {{Death date and age|2011|4|19|1953|10|1|df=y}}
|death_place    = Oslo, Norway
|height         = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m}}
|weight         = {{convert|120|lb|kg}}
|country        = [[Norway]]
|sport          = [[Sport of athletics]]
|event          = [[Marathon]]
|highestranking = 
|pb             = 
|medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|1984 Los Angeles]]|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|Marathon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]]|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|Marathon]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1978 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1978 Glasgow]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1979 Limerick]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1980 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1980 Paris]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1981 Madrid]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1983 Gateshead]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1982 Rome]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1984 East Rutherford]]|women's race}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1974 European Athletics Championships|1974 Rome]]|[[1974 European Athletics Championships – Women's 1500 metres|1500 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1978 European Athletics Championships|1978 Prague]]|[[1978 European Athletics Championships – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1977 IAAF World Cup|1977 Düsseldorf]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1979 IAAF World Cup|1979 Montreal]]|3000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Marathon]]s}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1978 New York City Marathon|1978 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1979 New York City Marathon|1979 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1980 New York City Marathon|1980 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1982 New York City Marathon|1982 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1983 New York City Marathon|1983 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1983 London Marathon|1983 London]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1984 New York City Marathon|1984 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1985 New York City Marathon|1985 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 New York City Marathon|1986 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 London Marathon|1986 London]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1988 New York City Marathon|1988 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Stockholm Marathon|1988 Stockholm]]|Marathon}}
}}

'''Grete Waitz''' ({{nee|'''Andersen'''}}, 1 October 1953{{spnd}}19 April 2011) was a Norwegian [[marathon]] [[Running|runner]] and former world record holder. In 1979, at the [[1979 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]], she became the first woman in history to run the marathon in under two and a half hours. Waitz won nine [[New York City Marathon]]s, women's division, between 1978 and 1988, the highest number of victories in a single big city marathon in history. She won the silver medal at the [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|1984 Olympic Games]] in [[Los Angeles]] and a gold medal at the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 World Championships]] in [[Helsinki]]. She was also a five-time winner of the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grete Waitz – A Life in the Lead |url=https://www.nyrr.org/about/hall-of-fame/grete-waitz |access-date=2021-01-01 |website=nyrr.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turnbull |first=Simon |date=22 April 2023 |title=How marathon greats Waitz and Kristiansen made a name for themselves |url=https://worldathletics.org/heritage/news/grete-waitz-ingrid-kristiansen-marathon-london |access-date=22 April 2023 |website=[[World Athletics]]}}</ref><ref name="NYTobituary">{{Cite news |last=Robbins |first=Liz |last2=Weber |first2=Bruce |date=2011-04-19 |title=Grete Waitz, Marathon Champion, Dies at 57 |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/sports/othersports/20waitz.html |access-date=2021-01-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Waitz [[Marathon world record progression#Women|four times set a world record in the marathon]], twice at the [[3000 metres]], and she set world records at distances of 8 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 15 kilometers and 10 miles. She won 12 [[World Marathon Majors]], the most for any runner, earning her a place in the ''[[Guinness World Records]]''.<ref name="Guinness World Records 2015" /> Her other marathon victories included winning the [[London Marathon]] in 1983 and 1986 and the [[Stockholm Marathon]] in 1988.

==Background==
Born '''Grete Andersen''' in [[Oslo]], Norway,<ref name="NYTobituary" /> Waitz was a talented young runner, but had difficulty in getting her parents to take her potential profession seriously. However, she ran at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] in [[Munich]] in the [[1500 metres]], and to support her athletic career she studied at a teachers college.{{Citation needed|date = July 2020}}

== Career ==
In her teen years, Andersen won national junior titles in Norway in the [[400 metres|400]] and [[800 metres]]. At age 17, she set the European junior record for the [[1500 metres]] with a time of 4:17 and won the bronze medal at the [[1974 European Athletics Championships|European Athletics Championships]] in this event in 1974. Andersen won the British [[WAAA Championships]] title in the 1500 metres event at the [[1974 WAAA Championships]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19740722/291/0012 |title=Midland Girl Shocks Champion |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=22 July 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 March 2025  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=7 March 2025}}</ref>

In 1975, Waitz broke the [[3000 metres]] world record, running 8:46.6 in Oslo. Also in Oslo a year later, she lowered this record with an 8:45.4 effort, then in 1977 she won the gold medal over the distance at the inaugural [[IAAF World Cup in Athletics]] meet in [[Düsseldorf]] with a personal best time of 8:43.50. Two years later in [[Montreal]], she won the silver medal, and came to her all-time personal best of 8:31.75 in Oslo.

She ran the 1500 m at the [[1978 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] in [[Prague]] on 3 September 1978. The run was won by [[Giana Romanova]] (USSR) in 3:59.01. Waitz placed fifth, with a career best of 4:00.55. It still stands as the Norwegian national record. Back then it was the eighth best time for the 1500 m.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_1500ok.htm|title=Women's 1500m|website=www.alltime-athletics.com|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/31/44/StatisticsHandbookZ%C3%BCrich2014_Neutral.pdf|title=EM 2014 Guide}}</ref> On 29 August at the Championships, she placed third in the 3000 m, with a time of 8:34.33. The winner was [[Svetlana Ulmasova]] with 8:33.16.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/31/44/StatisticsHandbookZ%C3%BCrich2014_Neutral.pdf|title=European Championships Handbook}}</ref>

===New York City Marathon 1978===
It was in 1978 that Waitz' association with the [[New York City Marathon]] began; she was invited to run there by race co-founder and director [[Fred Lebow]], and in her first appearance, she not only won but took a full two minutes off the women's course record. On 22 October 1978, she finished in 2:32:30 more than 9 minutes ahead of [[Marty Cooksey]]'s 2:41:49.<ref name="results.nyrr.org">{{Cite web|url=http://results.nyrr.org/|title=New York Road Runners Official Race Results|website=results.nyrr.org|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> Cooksey won the San Diego Half Marathon on 26 Aug in 1:15:04.<ref>{{Cite web |title=untitled |url=https://www.arrs.run/YR_HMar.htm |access-date=4 June 2019 |website=www.arrs.run}}</ref> Waitz' winning time there was a world record. During 1978, the world record in the women's marathon was 2:34:47.5 set on 10 September 1977 by [[Christa Vahlensieck]] at the [[Berlin Marathon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1980.htm|title=untitled|website=www.arrs.run|access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref> In 1981, the 1978 NYC course was remeasured and found 151 meters short. She further improved her NYC record with her following victories in 1979 and 1980.

According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS) Waitz had a 28 race winning streak from 22 September 1979 with a win in a 10-mile road race in Lynchburg (USA) until 8 June 1981 her win in a 3000 m track race in Basel (Switzerland).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/WS_All2.htm|title=untitled|website=www.arrs.run|access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref>

Waitz went on to win the race nine times and broke the course record three years in a row. In 1979, she won the NYC marathon in 2:27:33. [[Gillian Horovitz|Gillian Adams]] was the runner up with 2:38:33.<ref name="results.nyrr.org"/> Her winning time in the 1980 edition was 2:25:41, [[Patti Catalano|Patti Lyons-Catalano]] placed second with 2:29:33.<ref name="results.nyrr.org"/>

In 1983, she set the world record to 2:25:29, which she ran in London. Besides her marathon victories in New York and at the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 World Championships]] in [[Helsinki]], Waitz also won the [[London Marathon]] in 1983 and 1986 (the latter in a personal best of 2:24:54), as well as the [[Stockholm Marathon]] in 1988 at 2:28:24 (which as of 2022 was still the Stockholm course record for women).

Waitz enjoyed much success on the road at non-marathon distances as well, including a win at the [[Falmouth Road Race]] in 1980, four victories at the prestigious 10-km [[Peachtree Road Race]] in [[Atlanta]], five wins at the [[L'eggs Mini-Marathon]] in New York, and world road records at 8&nbsp;km (25:03), twice in the 10-km (31:16 in 1979, then later to 30:59), 15-km (48:01), and 10-mile distances. She further demonstrated her versatility by successfully competing in cross country, earning two bronze medals (1982, 1984) at the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships]] and winning the gold medal five times, (1978–1981 and 1983), tying her with [[Doris Brown Heritage]] for most wins in the history of women's International / World Cross Country Championships.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

Waitz' last race was a victory at [[5000 metres]] in Oslo in June 1982, in which her 15:08.80 was the second best in history, falling only a half second short of the world record set three weeks earlier by [[Mary Slaney]].

The only significant award Waitz did not win in her career was an Olympic victory. As an up-and-coming 19-year-old in Munich and then a 23-year-old running the 1500 m in Montreal (the longest event allowed for women in the Olympics up until 1984), she competed, but did not medal, in an event that was far short of her specialty. In 1980, Norway was one of the countries that decided to boycott the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in [[Moscow]]. At the [[1984 Summer Olympics]], she was beaten in the marathon by [[Joan Benoit]], placing second to take the silver medal. In the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul]], Korea, a bad knee forced her to drop out of the women's marathon just after passing the 18-mile mark.<ref name="NYTobituary" />

Waitz completed her last marathon on 1 November 1992 with her friend Fred Lebow. In celebration of Lebow's 60th birthday, after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in early 1990, they both completed the [[New York City Marathon]] with a time of 5:32:35.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/grete_waitz_reflects_fred_lebow_nyc_marathon_article-1.304957 |work=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]] |title=Grete Waitz reflects on her, & Fred Lebow's, last NYC Marathon |first=Wayne |last=Coffey|date=30 October 2008 |access-date=26 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209070913/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/grete-waitz-reflects-fred-lebow-nyc-marathon-article-1.304957 |archive-date=9 February 2016}}</ref>

==Personal bests==
''Source: IAAF''<ref>{{Cite web|website=iaaf.org|title=Grete Waitz bio|url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=w/athcode=63544/index.html|archive-date=23 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623101835/http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=w/athcode=63544/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1500 metres – 4:00.55 – Prague – 3 September 1978
* One mile – 4:26.90 – Gateshead – 9 July 1978
* 3000 metres – 8:31.75 – Oslo (Bislett) – 17 July 1979
* 15 kilometres – 47:52 – Tampa, FL – 11 February 1984
* [[Marathon]] – 2:24:54 – London – 20 April 1986

==After retirement==
Although not competing at the top level, Waitz still ran in and organised corporate races in which she aimed to give advice and information on distance running and health. She also did charity work, particularly for the [[CARE International]] and the [[Special Olympics|International Special Olympics]]. In June 2005 it was publicly known that she was undergoing treatment for [[cancer]]. She also coached [[Liz McColgan]]. For more than 25 years, Waitz served as the ambassador for the worldwide [[JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge]] Series, promoting health and wellness to full-time workers. She provided regular training and motivational tips.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpmorganchasecc.com/waitz.php|title=JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge website|access-date=6 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325123135/https://jpmorganchasecc.com/waitz.php|archive-date=25 March 2016}}</ref> Waitz was also a spokesperson for [[Avon Products]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawzone.com/half-nor/waitz.htm|title=Grete Waitz, Norwegian American Runner|first=Avon|last=Products|website=www.lawzone.com|access-date=6 August 2017}}</ref>

In August 2009 it was revealed that Waitz had initiated a co-operation between her old sponsor, [[Adidas]], and the cancer care foundation she started in 2007 – "Aktiv mot kreft" (Norwegian for "Active against cancer"). The co-operation would mean that the cancer care foundation would get 5% of the proceeds from Adidas' sale of their Grete Waitz and Modern Classics collections. This could be as much as [[Norwegian krone|NOK]] 500&nbsp;million per year, which would go to the establishment of hospital physical training centres and investment in [[Positron emission tomography|PET-scanners]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kreftstiftelse kan tjene milliarder med Grete Waitz|first=Wanda|last=Kristiansen|url=http://e24.no/medier-og-reklame/article3218118.ece|work=[[Aftenposten]]|date=16 August 2009|access-date=16 August 2009|language=no}}</ref>

==Death==
Waitz died of [[cancer]] on 19 April 2011, aged 57.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/sport/article4098248.ece|title=Grete Waitz er død|last=Langset|first=Kristine Grue|author2=Torgersen, Hans O. |author3=Dragland, Lene Li |date=19 April 2011|publisher=Aftenposten|language=no|access-date=19 April 2011}}</ref> She was first diagnosed in 2005, but the specific type of cancer was never disclosed to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/news/story?id=6387774 |title=Marathon great Grete Waitz dies at 57 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=19 April 2011}}</ref> Waitz was survived by her husband Jack<!-- when did they marry? --> and brothers Jan and Arild.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110419/ap_on_sp_ot/ath_obit_waitz |title=Marathon great Grete Waitz dies at 57 from cancer |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=14 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428101011/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110419/ap_on_sp_ot/ath_obit_waitz |archive-date=28 April 2011 }}</ref> The Norwegian government later announced she would be buried with government honor at state expense, the sixth woman in Norwegian history to be given this honor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/friidrett/artikkel.php?artid=10084424|title=Grete Waitz får begravelse på statens regning|trans-title=Grete Waitz is buried at the expense of the state|date=21 April 2011|publisher=Verdens Gang|language=no|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref> This was equivalent to a [[state funeral]], although in accordance with her family wishes the ceremony was private.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/04/21/state-funeral-for-grete-waitz/|title=Grete Waitz to receive state funeral|last=Berglund|first=Nina|date=21 April 2011|work=Views and News from Norway|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Waitz won 13 out of 20 marathons. With nine NYC Marathon wins, two London Marathon wins, and one World Championship win, she is the record holder for World Major Marathons.<ref name="Guinness World Records 2015">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rBd4BAAAQBAJ&q=world+marathon+major+waitz&pg=PT233|title=Guinness World Records 2015|year=2014|publisher=Guinness World Records|isbn=978-1-908843-70-8|language=en}}</ref>

Waitz is widely acknowledged as helping to promote marathon and long-distance running for women. In Norway she is a sporting legend, with an annual race named  in her honor. The [[New York Road Runners]] club annually sponsors "Grete's Great Gallop," formerly a half-marathon and now a 10K, in her honor.

There is a statue of Waitz in the Norway pavilion in EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort. There is also a statue of her outside [[Bislett Stadium]] in [[Oslo]], and she has been featured on a set of stamps. In addition, Waitz' portrait is featured on the tail of a Norwegian Air Shuttle 787 Dreamliner aircraft (a plane, coincidentally, manufactured in [[North Charleston, South Carolina]], a market where she won the Charleston-area 10&nbsp;km race in 1989).

In November 2008, Waitz was appointed a Knight 1st Class of the [[Order of St. Olav|Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav]], bestowed by King [[Harald V of Norway]] at a ceremony in Oslo.<ref name=GRR>{{cite news|title=King's honour for Marathon legend Grete Waitz |url=https://germanroadraces.de/?post_eng=kings-honour-for-marathon-legend-grete-waitz-european-athletics-eaa-news |website=germanroadraces.de |date=30 November 2008 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> She was only the third sportsperson ever to receive this award.<ref name=GRR /> Waitz received the [[St. Olav's Medal]] in 1981 and [[Medal of St. Hallvard]] in 1989.

==Achievements==
{|{{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
!colspan="7"|Representing {{NOR}}
|-
|1972
|[[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
|heats
|1500 m
|4.16.0
|-
|1974
|[[1974 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|1500 m
|4.05.2
|-
|1976
|[[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Montreal]], Canada
|semi-final
|1500 m
|4.04.80
|-
|1977
|[[IAAF World Cup]]
|[[Düsseldorf]], Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|3000 metres
|8:43.50
|-
|rowspan=3|1978
|[[1978 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Glasgow]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4.728&nbsp;km
|16:19
|-
|[[1978 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Prague]], Czech Republic
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|3000 metres
|8:34.33
|-
|[[1978 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:32:30
|-
|rowspan=3|1979
|[[1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Limerick]], Ireland
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|5.04&nbsp;km
|16:48
|-
|[[1979 IAAF World Cup|IAAF World Cup]]
|[[Montreal]], Canada
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|3000 metres
|8:38.59
|-
|[[1979 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:27:33
|-
|rowspan=2|1980
|[[1980 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Paris]], France
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4.82&nbsp;km
|15:05
|-
|[[1980 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:25:41
|-
|1981
|[[1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Madrid]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4.41&nbsp;km
|14:07
|-
|rowspan=2|1982
|[[1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|4.663&nbsp;km
|14:43.9
|-
|[[1982 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:27:14
|-
|rowspan=4|1983
|[[1983 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Gateshead]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4.072&nbsp;km
|13:29
|-
|[[1983 London Marathon|London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:25:29
|-
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:28:09
|-
|[[1983 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:27:00
|-
|rowspan=3|1984
|[[1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford, NJ]], United States
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|5&nbsp;km
|15:58
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Los Angeles]], United States
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Marathon
|2:26:18
|-
|[[1984 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:29:30
|-
|1985
|[[1985 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:28:34
|-
|rowspan=2|1986
|[[1986 London Marathon|London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:24:54
|-
|[[1986 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:28:06
|-
|rowspan=3|1988
|[[Stockholm Marathon]]
|[[Stockholm]], Sweden
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:28:24
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
| –
|Marathon
|{{AthAbbr|DNF}}
|-
|[[1988 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:28:07
|-
|1990
|[[1990 New York City Marathon|New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|4th
|Marathon
|2:34:34
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Audio interview==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081103080630/http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/04/podcast-35-interview-with-running-pioneer-grete-waitz/ TheFinalSprint.com's interview with running pioneer Grete Waitz]

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101021060451/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/10/30/2008-10-30_grete_waitz_reflects_on_her__fred_lebows.html Grete Waitz reflects on her, & Fred Lebow's, last NYC Marathon] – 2008 ''NY Daily News'' article by Wayne Coffey (archived copy)
*[https://doodles.google/doodle/grete-waitzs-58th-birthday/ Google Doodle tribute to Grete Waitz]
*{{sports links}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lyudmila Bragina]]|title=[[Women's 3000 metres world record progression|Women's 3 000 m world record holder]]|years=24 June 1975 – 7 August 1976|after=[[Lyudmila Bragina]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Christa Vahlensieck]]|title=[[Marathon world record progression|Women's marathon world record holder]]|years=22 October 1978 – 18 April 1983|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Joan Benoit]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Joan Benoit]]|title=[[Half marathon world record progression#Women|Women's Half marathon World record holder]]|years=15 May 1982 – 18 September 1983|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Joan Benoit]]}}
{{s-sports}}
{{marathon winner succession|marathon=London|sex=f
|before=[[Joyce Smith]]|after=[[Ingrid Kristiansen]]
|before2=[[Ingrid Kristiansen]]|after2=[[Ingrid Kristiansen]]
|year=1983|year2=1986}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lyudmila Bragina]]|before2=[[Lyudmila Bragina]]|title=[[3000 metres#Women's seasons best (outdoor track)|Women's 3000 m Best Year Performance]]|years=1975<br />1977–1979|after=[[Lyudmila Bragina]]|after2=[[Yelena Sipatova]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Ingrid Kristiansen]]|title=[[Marathon year rankings|Women's fastest marathon race]] |years=1986|after=[[Ingrid Kristiansen]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{2000 National Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions 3000m Women}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cross Champions Women}}
{{Footer World Champions Marathon Women}}
{{Footer London Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer New York Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer Stockholm Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer WBYP Mile Women}}
{{Footer WBYP 3000m Women}}
{{Footer WBYP Marathon Women}}
{{IAAF Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waitz, Grete}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Athletes from Oslo]]
[[Category:Norwegian women long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Norwegian women marathon runners]]
[[Category:Norwegian women middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Norway]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Norway]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Norway]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Cross Country Championships winners]]
[[Category:London Marathon women winners]]
[[Category:New York City Marathon women winners]]
[[Category:World record setters in the sport of athletics]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Norway]]
[[Category:Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Norwegian sportswomen]]