I tried to keep it secret, but the story got into the newspapers. It was more difficult for my family, who couldn't understand why the media wouldn't leave me in peace.

80 was the second best in history falling only a half second short of the world record set three weeks earlier by Mary Slaney. [citation needed]
The only significant award Grete Waitz did not win in her career was an Olympic victory. Background
Born Grete Andersen in Oslo Norway Waitz was a talented young runner but had difficulty in getting her parents to take her potential profession seriously.

She also won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and a gold medal at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. Grete Waitz (1 October 1953 – 19 April 2011) was a Norwegian marathon runner and former world record holder.