Grete (Andersen) Waitz, runner with statue in EPCOT, dead at 57

Every year when the Walt Disney World marathon passes through EPCOT thousands of runners also pass a statue of Grete Waitz a Marathon runner from Norway who won 9 New York City Marathons. That statue will now take on new significance as Waitz died today at the age of 57 after a 6-year marathon fight against cancer.

There is an excellent tribute from The International Association of Athletics Federations.

“One of the brightest flames of the modern athletics era has been extinguished but the heroic deeds of Grete Waitz will live on eternally,” commented IAAF President Lamine Diack. “The dedication, perseverance and fortitude with which Grete carved out her athletics career on the track, across the country and on the road is an example to us all, as is the positive way she tackled the illness that beset her life in recent years. On behalf of the international athletics family I wish to express our heartfelt sorrow at the passing of such a great champion, and offer our sincerest sympathies and condolences to her family and friends.”

Everyone at The Disney Blog agrees with those sentiments.