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1957-
Shattered the myth that women couldn't run 26 miles.

Samuelson won the first Olympic marathon for women at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.  Manny Millan

The enduring image of Joan Benoit Samuelson arises out of the waning moments of the 1984 women's Olympic marathon. Out of a tunnel and into the sunlight of the L.A. Coliseum she came, white cap on her head, gray uniform glistening with sweat. In winning the first Olympic marathon for women (in fact, the first race longer than 1,500 meters for women in the Games), Samuelson became a pioneer for the ages.

She came to running literally by accident. In high school she broke her right leg while skiing; following the lead of her two older brothers, both avid runners, she started running to get back in shape. She won the 1979 Boston Marathon and in '83 set a world record.

After '84 Samuelson switched her focus to her family (she and husband Scott have two kids, Abby, 12, and Anders, 10), but she kept running. Her '98 New York City Marathon time qualified her for the 2000 Olympic trials.

--Richard Deitsch

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

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