Rosa Mota
Rosa Mota in 2012
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota |
| Born |
June 29, 1958 Porto, Portugal |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Weight | 99 lb (45 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field athletics |
| Event(s) | Marathon |
| Retired | 1992 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | 1988 – Gold |
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Medal record
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Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota, GCIH, GCM (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁɔzɐ ˈmɔtɐ]; born June 29, 1958) is a Portuguese former marathon runner, one of her country's foremost athletes, being the first sportswoman from Portugal to win Olympic gold. Mota was the first woman to win multiple Olympic marathon medals as well as being the only woman to be the reigning European, World, and Olympic champion at the same time. On the 30th Anniversary Gala of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) she was distinguished as the greatest female marathon runner of all time.
Born in Porto's downtown neighbourhood of Foz Velha, Rosa started participating in cross-country races while in high-school.
In 1980 she met José Pedrosa, the man that would eventually be her personal trainer for her entire career. Rosa Mota's first marathon was at the European Championships of 1982, hosted by Athens, Greece - the first Women's Marathon ever. Mota was not one of the favourites for gold, but she easily beat Ingrid Kristiansen to win her first marathon.
This success was typical of Rosa Mota's career, as she usually finished well in the prestigious marathons. She was awarded the bronze medal in the first Women's Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles Olympic Games. Her personal best time was 2:23:29 in the 1985 Chicago Marathon. Mota won the Chicago Marathon twice.
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Wikipedia