In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the Boston Marathon finish line with a smile and a medal. She had just posted one of the fastest female marathon times ever. Cameras flashed. Reporters asked questions. But within days, the truth came out—Rosie Ruiz had cheated.
This is the strange and unforgettable story of how Rosie Ruiz became a marathon “winner” without running the whole race.
Who Was Rosie Ruiz?
Rosie Ruiz was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States at a young age. She worked at a company in New York and, out of nowhere, decided she wanted to run the New York City Marathon in 1979.
There was just one problem: she didn’t qualify.
So Rosie called the race organizers and told them she had brain cancer. She said running the marathon was her “last wish.” The organizers believed her and gave her a spot.
The Subway Shortcut
Rosie started the race in New York but quickly realized it was too hard. So she did something wild—she took the subway to Central Park and jumped back into the race near the finish line. She crossed the line with a time good enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon Scam
A few months later, Rosie showed up at the Boston Marathon. She started the race but again didn’t finish it. Instead, she jumped into the race near the end. This time, things went very wrong—or very right, depending on how you look at it.
Rosie crossed the finish line first. That meant she had “won” the Boston Marathon. Her time was the third-fastest ever recorded for a woman. People were shocked—and suspicious.
The Cracks Begin to Show
Marathon experts quickly noticed something wasn’t right. Rosie didn’t know basic running terms, such as “splits” or “intervals.” Her legs didn’t look like those of a trained athlete. And no one remembered seeing her on the course.
Other runners began to speak out. Some said Rosie didn’t pass them. Others noticed she didn’t mention key parts of the race. Two college students even told investigators they saw her jump out of the crowd just half a mile before the finish line.
The Truth Comes Out
Eight days later, race officials stripped Rosie Ruiz of her Boston Marathon title. She also lost her New York City finish time after a photographer came forward saying Rosie had told her on the subway that she was injured and quitting.
Still, Rosie refused to give up her medal or admit she cheated. She kept the medal until the day she died.
A Life of Lies
After the marathon scandal, Rosie lost her job. She later went to jail for embezzling money from a new employer. After that, she was caught selling drugs in Florida. She lived a troubled life and passed away in 2019 at the age of 66.
What Rosie Ruiz Teaches Us About Winning
The story of Rosie Ruiz and the marathon she didn’t run is more than just a funny headline. It reminds us that cutting corners may bring short-term fame, but the truth always catches up. Rosie didn’t just cheat in a race—she cheated herself out of what she wanted: to be proud of something real.
Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning and laughing a lot while you do, you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode right now!
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