October 7, 2008 - Shalane Flanagan won the bronze medal in the women’s 10,000-m at the Beijing Olympics in August. Since the event was added to the Olympics for women in 1988, only one other American has medaled: Lynn Jennings in 1992.
Flanagan shattered her own American Record in the process, running 30:22.22. That’s 4:53 per mile, for more than 6 miles in a row. She crossed the finish line absolutely dumbfounded, asking “Did I do it?” and covering her mouth with her hands as she watched the big screen and learned that she did, in fact, do it.
Flanagan has been known to keep to herself; she trains mostly alone or with her husband, unlike many professional women runners who live near each other and train together. You don’t see her writing blogs, showing up in commercials, or giving speeches. The only commercial I’ve seen her in is a Johnson & Johnson one that honored mothers; Shalane looked into the camera and thanked her mother for all of her support.
Watch Shalane open up a bit to Runners World, below:
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