FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York Road Runners Honors Grete Waitz with Medal Presentation in Oslo
On Wednesday, Mary Wittenberg hosted a luncheon at the historic in Oslo,
Norway, at the historic Bislett Stadium to honor and salute Grete Waitz,
marking the 30th anniversary of the first of her nine New York City
Marathon crowns.
Prior to the luncheon, Wittenberg joined Grete and her husband, Jack, in
meeting with the Mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, in his private office, which
overlooks the harbor and serves as the start and finish for the
approximately 7,000 runners who will compete in the Oslo Marathon this
Sunday.
A full house of national journalists, friends and family—including Waitz’s
two brothers, Arild and Jan—were in the room at the stadium, where a
life-sized statue of Grete stands out in front of the main entrance.
When Wittenberg presented Grete with the finisher medal for this year’s ING
New York City Marathon, which features a likeness of Grete on the front and
the inscription, "Grete Waitz, the Greatest New York City Marathon
Champion" on the back, she was truly touched by the gesture.
"There are a few in sports who have been game changers, and Grete changed
the sport," Wittenberg said. "She might have been slight in size, but she
was huge in stature. There have been 52 winners of the New York City
Marathon, all of them great and deserving winners, but Grete is a champion
of champions. Years after she has put away her racing shoes, Grete is the
gift that keeps on giving to all of us now."
"On celebrating 30 years since my first victory, I am very happy that you
have done this in my hometown with all of my friends and family," Waitz
said. "Looking back at that first win, it seems like it was just last
week."
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