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Former US track and field champion Gabriele Grunewald died yesterday at the age of 32, a decade after the diagnosis of a rare form of cancer. Despite her diagnosis, Grunewald competed professionally in middle distances at the highest level for six years after graduating from university in 2010, winning a national championship and almost going to the Olympics. Her husband, Justin, announced the news last night.
Grunewald joined the University of Minnesota circuit team and has improved throughout his academic career. On the eve of the peak season, Grunewald learned that she was suffering from adenoid cystic carcinoma, a cancer of the salivary glands that affects about 1,000 people a year. Grunewald set a personal best time of 1500 the next day. An additional year has been granted. Despite surgery and radiation treatment, she returned stronger than ever, finishing second in the 1500 meters at the 2010 NCAA Nationals.
Undaunted by her illness, Grunewald became professional and signed an approval contract with Brooks. Her thyroid gland was removed in 2010 after the cancer that appeared in 2010 and once again, she came back strong. "It's as if I have lost all excuses for not pushing me to reach my full potential," Grunewald said. New York Times.
Grunewald was heartbroken in 2012 when she lost a spot before qualifying for the Olympics. She finished fourth in her big event at the US Olympic Trials. A year later, at a Diamond League competition in Monaco, she clocked a personal best of 4: 1: 48, the 12th all-time best time among Americans. Grunewald won his first US championship in 2014 with a time of 9: 23.15 in the 3000 meters.
She reached the final of the 1500 meters at the 2016 Olympic Trials despite the return of her cancer. Shortly after the race, her husband took her in his arms and noticed a mass in her stomach. The cancer had reached her liver, which she had to remove half. Grunewald needed more and more severe chemotherapy treatments, but she kept running, her long curved scar not hidden as she ran. The drugs ran out, but she insisted on staying in the race.
Over the past three years, Grunewald has extensively reported on her fight against cancer and her efforts to keep running as long as she could. She has become an inspiring figure for cancer survivors, cancer patients and runners around the world, participating in the 2017 season as her body began to degrade. Grunewald founded the Brave Like Gabe Foundation, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and organized several races on his behalf.
Grunewald ran a 5K during a fundraising run of the foundation in April, and even when she could not run, she pedaled alongside Justin while he was training for the marathons. She was hospitalized earlier this month and was eventually transferred to a home care home. In April, she hoped to compete in the race to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
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