Last Friday, August 23, former Canadian marathon record holder Silvia Ruegger died after a battle with cancer at the age of 58. She held the women’s Canadian marathon record time of 2:28.36 for 28 years, before Lanni Marchant broke it in 2013, with a time of 2:28.00.

Ruegger was best known for representing Canada in the very first women’s marathon, which was contested at the Olympic Games in 1984. She finished in eighth place in that marathon before going on to win the 1985 edition of the Houston Marathon, clocking 2:28:36, that Canadian record time that held for so many years.

That Olympic marathon in Los Angeles took place at a time when women’s distance running was still being accepted, especially on a world stage. Ruegger was a pioneer for women’s distance running, being credited in many ways for the success women have had in distance running internationally.

She will be deeply missed, and we want to extend our condolences to her friends and family.