The Boston Marathon Cheater--True story--Hilarious Video

1980 The Boston Marathon Cheater


On April 21, 1980, Ruiz appeared to win the Boston Marathon's female category with a time of 2:31:56. Her time would have been the fastest female time in Boston Marathon history as well as the third-fastest female time ever recorded in any marathon.[3][4][5]

However, suspicions mounted about Ruiz almost from the beginning. Men's winner Bill Rodgers, who had just won his third straight Boston Marathon, noticed that Ruiz couldn't seem to recall many things that most runners know by heart, such as intervals and splits.[2] Other observers noticed that Ruiz wasn't panting or coated in sweat, and her thighs were much flabbier than would be expected for a world-class runner. She later released stress-test results showing her resting heart rate as 76; most female marathoners have a resting heart rate in the 50s or lower.[1]

In addition, her time of 2:31:56 was an unusual improvement, more than 25 minutes ahead of her reported time in the New York City Marathon six months earlier. When asked by a reporter why she didn't seem fatigued after the grueling race, she said, "I got up with a lot of energy this morning."[6] Some female competitors thought it was odd that, when asked what she had noticed about Wellesley while running through it, she did not mention the students of Wellesley College, who traditionally loudly cheer the first women runners as they pass the campus.

Most seriously, no one could recall seeing her. Jacqueline Gareau was told that she was leading the race with 18 miles to go, while Patti Lyons was told she was second at the 17-mile mark; Ruiz couldn't have passed either of them without being seen.[5] Several spotters at checkpoints throughout the course didn't remember seeing her in the first group of women. She also didn't appear in any pictures or video footage.[3]
[link to en.wikipedia.org]

Last Edited by Rayrayz on 04/17/2012 09:45 PM