If you were to ask many an American to name anything of interest about Norway, many would give you a blank stare and ask you what it is. While this might seem a sad commentary about people’s understanding about geography, while true, it’s also an indication that Norway is a small country, which has remained out of the political spotlight, since 1945. This is when it ceased being occupied by Nazi Germany.
Trying to rebuild itself meant utilizing its myriad of natural resources; and within only two decades, it became quite the independent nation it is today. However, it’s still as small as it ever was. Boasting a population of just under 5 million, it’s the most sparsely populated country in Europe and the third least populated in the world (for its geographical size). This country that shares most of its border with Sweden (known for more than just offering the world Ikea), is in the western most portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the last two decades, Norway has become of the US’s largest financial contributors, which makes its lack of notoriety among many Americans rather ironic.
Now that you have a little more of an idea what Norway is and where it’s located, it’s time to introduce to you one of its most prominent citizens of modern day.
Born on October 1, 1953 in Norway’s capital city of Oslo, was a little girl named Grete Andersen. Given how soon it was after recovering from part of occupied Nazi Germany, for a girl to take up something considered rather frivolous as running can be, her parents discouraged her from pursuing what she was clearly born to do. Relegated to watching from the sidelines as her brothers entered race after race, she longed to strap on running shoes and join them. Indeed, it’s safe to say that women the world over were hardly being taken seriously as athletes. However, determined as she was, Waitz began running and chasing her dream, albeit late in life as compared to most athletes who start in their formative years.
By 1970, Waitz was beginning to garner attention on an international front, which finally earned support from her family. Learning that the 1972 Olympic games to be held in Munich, Germany, were allowing women to compete in the 1500-meter race, Waitz tried out. Not only did she get to participate but found a surprising amount of support and encouragement from her male counterparts.
By 1975, this time competing in her native Olso, Waitz competed in the 3000-meter race and broke a world record, completing it in 8:46:06. She would come back a year later and best her time in the same race posting an 8:45:04. Waitz continued posting victories in both 3000 and 5000-meter races throughout Europe over the next three years.
In 1978, at the age of 25, Waitz was asked to participate in the New York City Marathon, by its co-founder Fred Lebow. Finishing the full 26 miles in 2:32:30, which is highly respectable finish for a man, Waitz shaved two minutes off the women’s world record set by Christa Vahlensieck, on September 10, 1977.
As if that weren’t enough to drop jaws both in the world of sports in the place Grete still called home, she came back a year later and bested her own record. In 1979, Waitz returned to New York City and ran the marathon in 2:27:32. On a roll, she’d return in 1980 and set a new world record running it in 2 hours, 25 minute and 29 seconds. However it was her participation in the London Marathon in 1986 that would turn the sport completely on its head when Waitz ran it in 2:24:54. Indeed, the current record holder for a woman is Paula Radcliffe who ran a 2:15: marathon in London in 2003. The record has yet to be broken.
Retirement – Sort of
Grete Waitz never did officially retire from professional sports. In 2005 she underwent treatment for an unspecified cancer and still competes in smaller races. In her career Waitz won 10 New York City Marathons (1978-1988). In that time, she set and then broke the world record twice. She won two London Marathons (1984 and 1986) and again, broke the world record. She has one silver medal for her efforts in the 1984 Olympics and a gold for the 1983 World Championship games held in Helsinki – both were for marathons.
Norway’s Finest
In a time when women were still discriminated against from entering competitive sports, women like Grete Waitz not only broke barriers but set records. She is widely regarded as one of the most famous female runners of the world and in Norway she is, as you can imagine, a national hero.
A statue of Grete Waitz outside the Bislet Stadium in Oslo is a constant reminder of Norway’s prodigal daughter. And when you mail a letter in Norway, don’t be surprised to see an image of the nine-time New York City Marathon winner. With more wins than anyone else in the world (male or female), she indeed has earned to be mailed all over the world. Grete Waitz is truly an inspiration to her little country and to women around the world.