Rosa MOTA
Portuguese athlete Rosa MOTA is often regarded as one of the greatest female marathoners of all time. She competed in 21 marathons between 1982 and 1992, winning 14 of them.
Rosa MOTA
Born in Porto in 1958, Rosa MOTA joined the Clube de Atletismo do Porto in 1981. When she first started running through the streets of the capital, she faced ridicule from men! At Athens 1982, she won the first women's marathon in Europe.
Histoire du marathon féminin et interview de Rosa MOTA (POR) (Magazine Olympique no 202) (2010) by Comité International Olympique (CIO)The Olympic Museum
Rosa MOTA breaks down barriers
Interviews and footage of Rosa MOTA talking about her participation in the first women's marathon in Europe in 1982 and the Olympic marathons of 1984 and 1988.
Los Angeles 1984, marathon Femmes - Cérémonie de remise des médailles (1984) by Comité International Olympique (CIO)The Olympic Museum
The first women's Olympic marathon: Los Angeles 1984
In 1984 Rosa MOTA won the bronze medal, finishing behind American Joan BENOIT and Norwegian Grete WAITZ, in a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 57 seconds.
Séoul 1988 – Arrivée de Rosa MOTA (POR) 1e. (1988) by Comité International Olympique (CIO)The Olympic Museum
Seoul 1988
During the 1988 Olympic marathon in Seoul, Rosa MOTA battled throughout the race to ensure the pace didn't drop. She broke away at the 37th kilometre and won with a 13-second lead in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 40 seconds.
Rosa MOTA triumphed in the Seoul 1988 Olympic marathon, a race she wasn't even supposed to participate in! Indeed, having fallen out with her federation, she secured her selection thanks to the intervention of the Portuguese President, Mario Soares.
Victories in major city marathons.
Rosa MOTA also achieved remarkable victories in major international marathons, winning in Chicago in 1983 and 1984, Rotterdam in 1983, Tokyo in 1986, Boston in 1987, 1988 and 1990, Osaka in 1990, and London in 1991 : a total of 14 wins out of 21 races!
1e Marathon de Lausanne, 1993 – Rosa MOTA (POR) au côté de Juan Antonia SAMARANCH, Président du CIO (1993) by Comité International Olympique (CIO)The Olympic Museum
Rosa MOTA and the first Lausanne Marathon in 1993
She participated in the half marathon during its inaugural race in Lausanne.
Rosa MOTA (POR) reçoit l’Ordre olympique de Juan Antonio SAMARANCH, Président du CIO (2000) by Comité International Olympique (CIO)The Olympic Museum
Rosa MOTA honoured for her fabulous career
In 1998 MOTA received the Abebe Bikila Award for her contribution to the development of long-distance training, and in 2000 IOC President Juan Antonio SAMARANCH presented her with the Olympic Order in Silver.
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