Rita Hanscom savors her Cinderella moment at IAAF Gala
San Diego’s Rita Hanscom and Germany’s Guido Müller have gone where no masters have gone before: on stage at the annual IAAF Gala in Monaco. On Sunday, when Usain Bolt and Sanya Richards were named Best Athletes of the Year, Rita and Guido shared the same spotlight as the kids — handed their World’s Best Masters Athletes awards by British middle-distance legend Sebastian Coe. No small thing. In past years, the award was made quietly at the WMA table, not on stage. And the WMA table this year was in the center of the room, not on the far periphery, I’m told. Reportedly, WMA Secretary Winston Thomas of Britain engineered Rita and Guido’s appearance on stage after some last-minute negotiations with IAAF honchos. Nice job, Winston! Rita met Usain and other track superstars at Monaco, and also had a chance to chat with Sanya on the flight to Europe, she reports.
My thanks to Eurovets President Dieter Massin of Germany for providing the first two of these photos.
Rita Hanscom and Guido Müller were masters honorees at IAAF Gala in Monaco.
WMA President Stan Perkins posed with Rita and Guido for IAAF Gala snapshot.
Rita (far right) joined world track’s 2009 luminaries in group shot at Monte Carlo.
24 Responses
Rita you look stunning. What a beautiful dress. (Those arrms are pretty impressive too!)
Gosh, Rita, I was thinking the same thing. You are stunning! Congratulations.
Congrats Rita, you’re gorgeous and a great role model for women masters everywhere!
Congratulations Rita – and your arms are much better looking than Michele O’s – the arms of a world class pole vaulter!
Rita you looked so pretty! 🙂
Congratulations on your award and achievements in Masters track you are an inspiration to all..
Looking forward to seeing you on the track!!
Congratulations, Rita, to a very deserving, athletic, beautiful, and inspiring winner! Looking forward to seeing you in Kamloops and Sacramento this year!
Congratulations Rita! You look FAB!
Congratulations Rita. You look great, beautiful dress. Glad we are on the same team. Striders rule!!!
Congratulations on being named the World’s Best Female Masters Athlete. It is an award you truly earned, and I hope it gives you a chance to reflect and feel good about what you’ve accomplished so far. I always thought you looked amazing when you ran, but standing still, wearing a perfect dress, you look wonderful! Thank you for representing all of us so well.
Rita looks fabulous. And girls – Guido looks fabulous too.
Congratulations! Your award is well deserved. It is always fun to see you compete. Your form in everything is great. I love running with you because you inspire me to faster times. Best of all, you look stunning.
Rita you look stunning now lets get back to work. 🙂
These are great pictures. I am jealous. Gary
I want you to know that Rita is my sister, and I am so proud of her I could cry!!
So along with the incredibly hard working competetive woman who wins gold medals, Rita is the same kind, considerate, unassuming girl that I grew up with.
Rita, you rock!!
I love you to death. I only wish your father were alive to see what you have accomplished.
—Jay
Rita,
You look dazzling in your little Black gown. WOW!!!!
You are a class act both and off and on the field. Wings Group.
Jeanette
Rita,
What a fabulous dress!!! You look fantastic in all of the photos, See you back “at work” soon.
Jai
I remain in awe of the person and the athlete!! Bubba
Congratulations Rita, this is so deserved !!!
You look radiant !!
It is always a pleasure and now also an honour to compete with you.
Rita—congratulations! You look gorgeous and you’ve earned every atom of the award. I’m proud to know you.
Margaret (of Madison WI)
Rita, What a treat to see you in THEE dress at our banquet last night! We are all so proud of all your achievements!
Rita, sorry to have missed you, this is one of
those accomplishments it is hard to fathom the discipline that had to go with it. Great pic. i know we never been real close ,alot of my own choices but i did want to let you know i was not surprised, but
proud and happy for you, my uncle and your family,exst. family….just cool,must a felt pretty great about your work and commitment.
proud happy for you.
fondly,
bill sedlmayr
Rita congratulations on such a wonderful accomplishment–you earned it !!!! Your next career should be modeling !
Frank Speedy
Good job Rita. See ya at Boston!!
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