Kathy Butler (born 22 October 1973) is a long-distance runner who competes in the 10,000 metres and marathon, as well as cross country running and road running. Born in Scotland, she has competed internationally for both Great Britain and Canada.

Kathy Butler
Personal information
National team Canada  Great Britain
Born (1973-10-22) 22 October 1973 (age 51)
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Websitekathy-butler.com
Sport
SportWomen's Athletics
EventMiddle-distance running
University teamUniversity of Wisconsin
ClubWindsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow Athletic Club
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United Kingdom
World Cross Country Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Brussels Women's team
European Cup
Gold medal – first place 2001 Bremen 3000 m
Goodwill Games
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Brisbane 5000 m

Early life and collegiate career

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Butler was born in Edinburgh of English parents and brought up in Edinburgh and the Isle of Wight until her parents emigrated to Ontario, Canada when she was 10.[1] She attended the University of Guelph, Canada before transferring to the University of Wisconsin, USA. In 2004, she was inducted into the University of Wisconsin hall of fame.[2] In 2005, she was inducted into the University of Guelph hall of fame.[3]

As a member of the cross country and track teams at the University of Wisconsin, Butler was a five-time NCAA Champion and a 13-time All-American. In the 1995-96 season, Butler received the Honda Sports Award, given to the top women in collegiate athletics.[4][5][6]

Canada

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While in college she competed for Canada in the 5,000 metres at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.[7] She finished seventh in her heat and did not advance to the final.

In 1999 Butler was 4th at the World Cross Country short course held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

The failure to receive any support from Athletics Canada resulted in questions being asked in the Canadian Parliament. [8]

Great Britain

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In 2000, she switched to competing internationally for Great Britain.[9]

In 2001, Butler finished 12th at the World Cross Country Championships (4 k race), won the European Cup 3000m[10] and also placed third in the 5,000 metres at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[11]

During the IAAF World Championships Olga Yegorova, who had shown positive for the blood-boosting agent erythropoietin in tests conducted by a Paris lab escaped suspension because procedures were improperly observed, her presence at the World Championships kept Butler out of the World Championship final.[12]

In 2002 Butler missed out on competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games after she was diagnosed with osteitis pubis.[13] In 2004, she finished 11th at the World Cross Country Championships (8 km race) in Brussels, winning a bronze medal with the British team. Running for Great Britain at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Butler finished 12th in the 10,000 metres with a time of 31:41.13.[14]

In 2005 Butler won the meet at the Venta de Baños Cross Country.[15] Later in the year she debuted in the marathon with 2:30:01 at the Chicago Marathon.[16]

Butler competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, finishing 7th while representing Scotland.

Butler was an assistant coach at both Stanford University and University of Wisconsin.[4] Butler was coached for much of her post collegiate career by Peter Tegen [17] and at the end of her career by former marathon world record holder Steve Jones.[18]

Personal life

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In 1994 Butler was diagnosed with Graves' disease, a disorder of the thyroid gland.[1]

Butler has a maple leaf tattooed on her ankle, along with the five-ring Olympic insignia.[19]

Butler lives in Nederland, Colorado[20] in the United States with her husband and daughter. She is the Head Coach of Run Boulder AC.

Butler is the Chair of USATF Coaching Education as well as a Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor for USATF. [21]

Competition record

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Olympics

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1996 Atlanta Olympics

2004 Athens Olympics

  • 10,000 m: 12th. 31:40 (competing for Great Britain)

Other events

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Personal bests

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References

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  1. ^ a b "No homecoming for Kathy Butler". the Guardian. 31 July 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Kathy Butler (2005) - Hall of Fame".
  4. ^ a b http://www.gostanford.com/sports/c-xc/mtt/tegen_peter00.html Archived 2013-01-24 at archive.today Peter Tegen Biography.
  5. ^ "Kathy Butler (2004) | University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Cross Country". CWSA. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Kathy Butler". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ^ "'If you don't get it right now, it doesn't mean it's not going to happen.' Kathy Butler - Olympic athletes interviewed Episode 97". 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kathy Butler". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Butler's best of British". 23 June 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Goodwill glory for Yegorova". 4 September 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Bad blood keeps Butler on her toes Doug Gillon explains why one of Scotland's top athletes is wearing a red ribbon on her vest". HeraldScotland. 8 December 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ^ http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17&itemType=news&itemId=51 Butler Set For Return
  14. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/stan/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/08-ctrack-mediaguide-1-28.pdf Archived 3 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Stanford Media guide
  15. ^ "Butler strikes gold in Spain". 19 December 2004. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. ^ http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=b/athcode=70168/index.html IAAF Bio
  17. ^ "Athlete Profile". www.thepowerof10.info. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  18. ^ http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17&itemType=news&itemId=4803 Q&A with Steve Jones tonight at Scotstoun.
  19. ^ "Butler shows pedigree with very un-British win". www.telegraph.co.uk. 23 June 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  20. ^ www.fitnessgoop.com http://www.fitnessgoop.com/2011/05/olympic-runner-kathy-butler-sets-her-sights-on-london-2012/. Retrieved 19 January 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "USA Track & Field | Coaching Education Committee".
  22. ^ "Butler retains AAA 10,000m crown". 11 June 2005. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
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