Silvia Ruegger

Canadian long-distance runner (1961–2019)

Silvia Ruegger

Personal information

Full name| Silvia Rosemarie Ruegger
Nationality| Canadian
Born| (1961-02-23)February 23, 1961
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Died| August 23, 2019(2019-08-23) (aged 58)
Sport
Sport| Long-distance running

Silvia Ruegger (February 23, 1961 - August 23, 2019) was a long-distance runner from Canada, who represented her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. She finished in eighth place in the women's marathon.[1] She came first in the 1985 Houston Marathon in 2:28:36.[2] She was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and grew up just south of the village of Newtonville, Ontario.[3] She died in August 2019, at the age of 58.[4]

## Biography[edit]

Ruegger was born in Oshawa, Ontario in February 1961.[1] She was inspired to run after watching the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal,[5] and set herself a goal to compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.[1] However, Canada was one of the many nations to boycott the games.[6]

At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Ruegger competed in the women's marathon,[7] where she finished in eighth place,[8] setting a new national record in the process.[1] The following year, she won the 1985 Houston Marathon, setting another national record,[9] one that would stand for 28 years.[10] However, two weeks later, Ruegger was involved in a car accident.[11] Despite this, her career lasted another eleven years, which included winning the 1987 Pittsburgh Marathon.[1] She retired from long-distance running just before the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[1]

After her running career, Reugger set up a national programme, called Start2Finish, to help at-risk young people.[1] In 2017, she was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.[12] She died two years later,[13] at the age of 58.[14]

## Achievements[edit]

Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Representing  Canada
1984  | National Capital Marathon | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  | 1st  | Marathon  | 2:30:37
Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 8th  | Marathon  | 2:29:09
1985  | Houston Marathon | Houston, United States | 1st  | Marathon  | 2:28:36
1987  | Pittsburgh Marathon | Pittsburgh, United States | 1st  | Marathon  | 2:31:53

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Silvia Ruegger". Olympedia. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
2. ^ "Sylvia Ruegger, former Canadian marathon record holder, dead at 58". Beyond the Dash. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
3. ^ "Silvia Ruegger Left her mark on Canadian Women's sport". Orono Weekly Times. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
4. ^ "Silvia Ruegger dies at age 58". Canadian Running. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
5. ^ "Running trailblazer: Remembering Silvia Ruegger". Press Reader. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
6. ^ Smothers, Ronald (July 19, 1996). "Bitterness Lingering Over Carter's Boycott". The New York Times. Vol. 145, no. 50493.
7. ^ "Silvia Ruegger". Press Reader. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
8. ^ "Marathon, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
9. ^ "Silvia Ruegger, Canadian Marathon Icon, Dies at Age 58". Athletics Ontario. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
10. ^ "Runner set a Canadian record that stood for 28 years". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
11. ^ "Silvia Ruegger dies from cancer at 58". Run the North. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
12. ^ "Pioneering Olympian Silvia Ruegger faces cancer with grace, running and an unrelenting faith". Solas. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
13. ^ "Silvia Rosemarie Ruegger". Northcutt Elliott. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
14. ^ "Gryphon Hall of Fame Runner Silvia Ruegger Passes Away". Gryphons. Retrieved June 1, 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Sylvia Ruegger at World Athletics
* Sylvia Ruegger at Olympedia
* Canadian Olympic Committee

Authority control databases: People |

* World Athletics

|