Joan Benoit took up long-distance running while in high school, to help her recover from a broken leg suffered in a skiing accident. She focused on running in college. After transferring to North Carolina State University, she was named an All-American in 1977 and 1978. She won the Boston in 1979, knocking more than eight minutes over the course record, and again in 1983. Benoit's Boston Marathon record of 2:22:43, set in 1983, was disputed for the world record.
In 1984, Benoit injured her knee while training, and had to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery just 17 days before the Olympic Trials. She recovered so quickly that she won the marathon at the trials before going on to capture the gold in Los Angeles.
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