AIMS/Athens Classic Marathon – MARATHON LEGEND INGRID KRISTIANSEN PRESENTED WITH AIMS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT BEST MARATHON RUNNER AWARD GALA

The world running organisation the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) is delighted to announce that Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen was presented with the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural AIMS Best Marathon Runner' (BMR) Award Gala in Athens, Greece on Friday 8 November 2013.

Ingrid's outstanding achievements were recognised on behalf of the AIMS Members, made up of more than 350 of the world's leading and most prestigious distance races from over 100 countries and territories.  The BMR Gala was presented by the Patron of AIMS, OPAP S.A., the leading gaming operator in Greece.

Ingrid received the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her significant role in the development of the Marathon Movement. She was 4th at the LA (inaugural) Olympic Marathon for women in 1984 and the following year set a world record (or "world best" as they were then referred to by the IAAF) of 2:21:06 in the London Marathon. She won the London Marathon on three other occasions – in 1984, 1987 and 1988. Her world record lasted 13 years, until Tegla Lorupe beat it by 19 seconds in Rotterdam in 1998.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: "We are delighted to recognise the considerable achievements of Ingrid Kristiansen. In addition to being a world class athlete, she is a global icon for women in sport. The excellence of her perfomances is only matched by the passion & charisma she has displayed in acting as an inspiration for generations of women to take up sport and to excel at it. We are delighted to recognise her substantial contributiuon to sport, appropriately in the home of the Marathon, here in Athens, Greece".

Ingrid Kristiansen comments: "I am delighted to receive this award. I remember AIMS was the first organisation to recognise world record performances on the road. I was proud to be the first woman recognised by AIMS for a world best time in the marathon. It is fantastic to see how the sport of running has developed with times getting faster as well as so many women participating in the sport. While my native country Norway is a leading nation in terms of female participation in sport, I am delighted to read that in the USA, more women than men are competing in road races these days.

This shows how far the sport has come since Kathrine Switzer set a trail for women by competing in the Boston Marathon in 1967 when women were not allowed to participate. I compliment AIMS for establishing the Best Marathon Runner Award which I believe will radically enhance both the recognition and promotion of marathon runners and AIMS' efforts to promote passion and commitment in all parts of the running community."

 

About the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award Gala

The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:

         I.          Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award. The BMR Award replaces the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award.

       II.          Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.

      III.          Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS members (350+ race organizers) through the establishment of special environmental and social awards.

     IV.          Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.

The event was staged at Athens College Theater, 15 Stefanou Delta Street 15452 Psychico, Athens, Greece on Friday 8 November 2013.

 

About AIMS

 

AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has grown to a membership of more than 350 of the world's leading distance races, from over 100 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from every continent on the planet and include the Athens Classic Marathon, formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Persians had been defeated in the ‘Battle of Marathon'.

Other AIMS members include many of the world's greatest distance races in history such as the Boston and the Berlin Marathons.

The three key objectives of AIMS are:

1.      To foster and promote distance running throughout the world

2.      To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.

3.      To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the association

For further information on AIMS please visit: aimsworldrunning.org

Gordon Sheach 
Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS)