Race weekend’s star guest

Joan Benoit Samuelson, the winner of the first ever  women’s Olympic marathon, will be the special guest at the Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

Samuelson, now 56, made history in 1984 in Los Angeles when she clinched gold in a time of two hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds, beating the likes of Grete Waitz, Rosa Mota and Ingrid Kristiansen.

The American enjoyed widespread success in her career, also winning prestigious races such as the Boston and Chicago marathons. 

She held the women’s marathon world record for two years in the early 1980s and remains the fastest American woman to run the Chicago Marathon and Olympic Marathon.

Samuelson has yet to decide which race she will compete in over the popular weekend in Bermuda, which runs from January 17-19.  

As usual, it will feature the ‘Bermuda Triangle’: the Front Street Mile on Friday, the 10k on Saturday and the half-marathon and marathon on the Sunday.

On the Thursday, there will be a special screening of a documentary Samuelson did with Nike followed by a Q&A session. She will also be present to sign autographs on the Friday at the bib pick-up.

Having raced here in the late 70s and early 80s, next year will represent her long-awaited return.

Race organizer Anthony Raynor told the Bermuda Sun: “She ran here many years ago and also had her honeymoon in Bermuda so she keeps in touch with people here.

“She’s been interested in coming back for a quite a while and we are grateful sponsors Lindo’s, Millennium Re and Ashlan Clinic that have helped make it happen.”

Registration is now open for the event. Log on to www.bermudaraceweekend.com for details. The deadline for regular registration ends on new year’s eve, while late registration takes place at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Friday, January 17.