Kathy Butler

Butler was born in Edinburgh of English parents and brought up in London 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]

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 2000, she switched to competing internationally for Great Britain.[8]

In 2001, Butler finished 12th at the World Cross Country Championships (4 k race), won the European Cup 3000m [9] and also placed third in the 5,000 metres at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[10]

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.[11]

In 2002 Butler missed out on competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games after she was diagnosed with osteitis pubis.[12] 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.[13]

In 2005 Butler won the meet at the Venta de Baños Cross Country.[14] Later in the year she debuted in the marathon with 2:30:01 at the Chicago Marathon.[15]

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 is now coached by former marathon world record holder Steve Jones.[16]

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.[17]

Butler lives in Nederland, Colorado[18] in the United States. She is the track coach at Nederland High School.[19]

• 1500 metres - 4:08.17 min (1997)
• 3000 metres - 8.40.97 min (2001)
• 5000 metres - 15:05.51 min (2004)
• 10,000 metres - 31:36.90 min (2004)
• Half marathon - 71:05 min (2006)
• Marathon - 2:28:39 min (2006)

• Official website
• Kathy Butler at World Athletics