Fatuma Roba

"I really did not get any encouragement from anyone, but I pushed on because I liked to run. I made my first national team in 1988."

"I knew I would be the Olympic Champion. I was running and the others were looking backwards, so I understood that they were tired, when for me the pace was easy. It was nice, because I could run strong and enjoy."

"I knew of 1960 Olympic marathon winner Abebe Bikila and 1968 winner Mamo Wolde from the radio, so I thought I’d try it, too."

"They thought I should be doing women things."

"I do not really want to be famous,But it's nice to be among the renowned athletes."

"I am hoping to make history, I feel like I have made good preparation."

"Well, for me the greatest of all marathons is of course the olympic marathon, but second place is Boston."

"Sometimes, if there are a lot of people around me when I go to a store, I feel a bit intimidated. I used to be shy. I still consider myself shy, but I'm a little better now and I'm getting used to it."

"I'm very happy to win a second time, I found it to be a very easy race."

"I've been told there is a big hill, but I didn't see it."

"They all went out of their way, getting us awards and everything."

"Even if I never ran again, I would have been content."

"The reaction I felt from people had a big impact on me, I suddenly felt such a great sense of responsibility. I felt that I had to try to keep running, as long as I possibly could."

"Before the race I was afraid of the others with better times, but soon I realized that they were not running fast today, I picked up the speed and they would not follow. At that point I was already sure that I would win because I practiced very hard."

"Never again, never again will I do this distance, it is too long."

"This is not only a special thing for me but also for my country and all African women."

"She is the only woman from Africa who has won the Olympics and Boston Marathon three times. She is an inspiration for us."

"I think she is an example for a lot of women who are discouraged by the culture because it does not reward you."

"If she can win four times, it gives us much more potential to think we can do it, maybe six times."

"For women, she seems like a very special person, she's very determined, If she wins four, we don't need anything else."

"My wife gave birth to a baby girl soon after the Olympics and I named her 'Fatuma' after you."

"She ran with the same smooth stride and placid, dispassionate look on her face that she carried through the Olympic race."

"The most relaxed-looking runner I have ever seen."