The Women’s Marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California (USA) was held on August 5, 1984. It was the first time a women’s marathon had been held at the Olympic Games. The 50 competitors came from 28 countries. 44 finished the race. The world record holder Joan Benoit of the USA won the gold medal, with the silver medal going to the 1983 World champion Greta Waitz of Norway, and bronze to Rosa Mota of Portugal. The race was also notable for Gabriela Andersen-Schiess from Switzerland, who entered the stadium for the final lap in a state of almost total exhaustion, barely able to walk but eventually completing the race, collapsing at the finishing line and being immediately treated by medical personnel. She finished 37th.
Bone Daddy was at the Los Angeles Coliseum on this date, August 5, 1984….as he has rated this date and the four events that he saw live that day…..the women’s 100 m final with USA teammates Evelyn Ashford and Alice Brown….the men’s 400 m hurdles finals with USA teammates Edwin Moses and Andre Phillips…..the men’s javelin prelims with USA Tom Petranof….and the women’s marathon with USA Joan Benoit…..as one of the greatest days he had ever seen watching live sporting events…..and I have written stories about this day that will eventually be published. Bone Daddy says that the determination of Switzerland’s Gabriela Andersen-Schiess to cross the finish line and complete the marathon at the ’84 Olympics….as the greatest display of the human pursuit of a dream that he had ever seen….saying the the response of the 91,000 fans at the L A Coliseum that day…..was a moment he will always cherish….calling it PURE APPRECIATION.
