Shalane Flanagan crushed 26.2 miles in 2:26:53 to become the first able-bodied American woman to win the 47th New York City Marathon in 40 years.

It was the first major marathon win of her career. Due to a lower back injury, she had not raced the distance since the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where she placed 6th.

The last U.S. woman to hit the tape first in Central Park was the late Miki Gorman in 1977.

“If I need to break a leg in the race to win, I will just do anything I possibly can to put myself in position,” Flanagan said in the days leading up to the race.

Coming off of a cold three weeks ago, she beat Mary Keitany of Kenya — no easy task. Keitany, who finished in second place, had won the last three consecutive New York City Marathons, and set a record on the course in 2016.

“This is a moment that I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl, and it’s been a tough week for New Yorkers, and a tough week for our nation, and I thought, what better gift than to make Americans smile today,” Flanagan said with a medal around her neck.

 

 

At 36 years old, Flanagan disclosed that if she got her first major marathon win, she would consider retiring.

“I just want that one last really proud feeling for myself,” she said.

Her previous best at the New York City Marathon was a second place finish in 2010. She holds the American record in the 3000m, 5000m and the 15K.

Not only is she a talented runner, but she’s a good person. According to USA Today, she and her husband, Steve Edward, took in twin girls, Breauna and Keauna, to provide foster care during their senior year of high school. It turns out, the girls were runners, too, but preferred sprinting.

 

 

No doubt, they’re proud of their foster mom now.

As are many of Flanagan’s teammates and fellow professional runners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Americans smile today? Mission accomplished, Shalane Flanagan.