University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: AP
Tar Heel Legend Shalane Flanagan Announces Retirement
October 21, 2019 | Cross Country, Track & Field
Four-time Olympian and All-American Tar Heel distance runner Shalane Flanagan announced her retirement from professional running on Monday, bringing a close to a remarkable 15-year career.
"It is impossible to even explain the enormous impact Shalane has had throughout her career," North Carolina director of track & field and cross country Chris Miltenberg said. "She has changed the face of distance running the United States and inspired an entire generation. Her impact reaches far beyond running and inspires us all to dream big and be relentless. Shalane is truly the inspiration for everything we want our program at Carolina to represent and we congratulate her on behalf of the entire Carolina family."
Flanagan remains one of the most decorated competitors to attend the University of North Carolina. In her three-and-a-half years competing at Carolina, Flanagan was a 15-time ACC champion, 14-time All-American, four-time national champion and a 2004 recipient of the Patterson Medal - the top athletic honor given at the university. She also still holds program records in the indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 5,000 meters.
On the international stage, Flanagan competed in each of the summer Olympic Games between 2004 and 2016 and won the silver medal in the 10,000 meters in Beijing in 2008. At the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Flanagan competed in the marathon and collected 10th- and sixth-place finishes, respectively. She also won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships in Spain.
Toward the end of her career, Flanagan found her final successes at the New York City Marathon. In 2017, Flanagan became the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977. Just one year later, Flanagan finished third at the same event in what would be the final professional appearance of her career.
Flanagan is a four-time U.S. Outdoor champion and a five-time U.S. Cross Country champion. She was also crowned the U.S. Indoor 3,000-meter champion in 2007 and holds the American record in three events - the indoor 3,000 meters, the indoor 5,000 meters and the road 10K. She previously held the outdoor 5,000-meter record.
Flanagan will continue to work within the running community as a professional coach for Nike Bowerman Track Club in Oregon.
"It is impossible to even explain the enormous impact Shalane has had throughout her career," North Carolina director of track & field and cross country Chris Miltenberg said. "She has changed the face of distance running the United States and inspired an entire generation. Her impact reaches far beyond running and inspires us all to dream big and be relentless. Shalane is truly the inspiration for everything we want our program at Carolina to represent and we congratulate her on behalf of the entire Carolina family."
Flanagan remains one of the most decorated competitors to attend the University of North Carolina. In her three-and-a-half years competing at Carolina, Flanagan was a 15-time ACC champion, 14-time All-American, four-time national champion and a 2004 recipient of the Patterson Medal - the top athletic honor given at the university. She also still holds program records in the indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 5,000 meters.
On the international stage, Flanagan competed in each of the summer Olympic Games between 2004 and 2016 and won the silver medal in the 10,000 meters in Beijing in 2008. At the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Flanagan competed in the marathon and collected 10th- and sixth-place finishes, respectively. She also won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships in Spain.
Toward the end of her career, Flanagan found her final successes at the New York City Marathon. In 2017, Flanagan became the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977. Just one year later, Flanagan finished third at the same event in what would be the final professional appearance of her career.
Flanagan is a four-time U.S. Outdoor champion and a five-time U.S. Cross Country champion. She was also crowned the U.S. Indoor 3,000-meter champion in 2007 and holds the American record in three events - the indoor 3,000 meters, the indoor 5,000 meters and the road 10K. She previously held the outdoor 5,000-meter record.
Flanagan will continue to work within the running community as a professional coach for Nike Bowerman Track Club in Oregon.
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