Gabriela Andersen won her personal battle.

The 1984 women’s Olympic marathon was historic because it was the first time the event was included at the Games.
Up to that point 1,500 metres  was considered the upper limit of ladylike Olympic competition.
The race was won by Joan Benoit, in a remarkable time of 2:24:52. However, there was a notorious fact for the 70,000-plus spectators who cheered on the marathon runner Gabriela Andersen-Schiess during the  400 metres of agony she had to walk.
She was an incredible 37th, in a time of two hours, 48 minutes and 42 seconds.
"I guess I just kept walking by instinct," she said. "It was a little bit of willpower or something. Your mind tries to dominate over your tired body. Your body may be screaming, 'No!', but your mind says, 'Well, yes, but it's so close.'"



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