Anne Garrett-Audain

Anne Audain overcame bone deformities in both feet to become one of the world’s first female professional runners. In 1981 she won the Cascade Runoff in Eugene, Oregon and its first prize of $10,000, for which she was banned as a professional by the IAAF. She then signed a contract with Nike. As the sport became more professional Audain was reinstated by the IAAF in 1982.

In addition to running at three Olympic Games, Audain was twice a medalist at the Commonwealth Games, with a gold in the 3,000 metres in 1982 and a silver in the 10,000 in 1986. In March 1982 she broke the world record in the 5,000 metres. She later became a race organizer, starting the Idaho Women’s Celebration 5K in 1993, which later evolved into www.FitOneBoise.org.

In 1995 Audain was made a Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. She is a member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame, and the Running USA Hall of Champions.

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:04.4 (1976); 1500 – 4:10.68 (1976); 10000 – 31:53.31 (1986); Mar – 2-31:41 (1990).