Kim Gallagher

{{short description|American middle-distance runner}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

|name = Kim Gallagher

|image = Fița Lovin and Kim Gallagher 1984.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Gallagher (right) in the 800m final at the 1984 Summer Olympics

|nationality =

|residence =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1964|6|11|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], U.S.{{cite web|title=Kim Gallagher|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/kim-gallagher-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174130/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ga/kim-gallagher-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2020|website=sports-reference.com|access-date=July 10, 2015}}

|death_date = {{death date and age|2002|11|18|1964|6|11|mf=y}}

|death_place = Oreland, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|height = 165 cm

|weight = 47 kg

|sport = Athletics

|event = 400–1500 m

|collegeteam =

|coach =

|club=Puma and Energizer Track Club
Los Angeles Track Club

|pb = 400 m – 52.44 (1985)
800 m – 1:56.91 (1988)
1500 m – 4:03.29 (1988)[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=g/athcode=60605/index.html IAAF Biographies – Kim Gallagher]

|medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country |the {{USA}} }}

{{MedalOlympics}}

{{Medal|Silver | 1984 Los Angeles | 800 metres}}

{{Medal|Bronze | 1988 Seoul | 800 metres}}

|show-medals =

}}

Kimberly Ann "Kim" Gallagher (June 11, 1964 – November 18, 2002) was an American middle-distance runner who won a silver and a bronze medal at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Records

=[[United States high school national records in track and field|National high school records]]=

  • 800 Meters – 2:00.07
  • 3200 Meter Relay – 8:58.43 (T. Pahutski, K. Baldwin, W. Crowell, K. Gallagher)

=PIAA state records=

  • 800 meters – 2:05.47
  • 1600 meters – 4:41.08
  • 1600-meter relay – 3:49.61 (T. Pahutski, K. Baldwin, C. Woldecke, K. Gallagher)
  • 3200-meter relay – 8:58.43 (T. Pahutski, K. Baldwin, W. Crowell, K. Gallagher)

Accomplishments

Gallagher was a High School All-American at Upper Dublin High School, Penn Relays Champion, won twelve PIAA gold medals and was a Pennsylvania State Champion in Track & Field and cross-country. She was inducted into the Pennsylvania Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Penn Relays Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 2005, Gallagher was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Upper Dublin High School as part of the inaugural class.[http://www.udsd.org/schools/udhs/udhs-athletics/#toggle-id-3 Athletic Department]. udsd.org

Personal life

Gallagher took up athletics following her brother Bart, who coached her in her early years.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-21|title=Kim Gallagher, area's best middle-distance runner ever, remembered 10 years after her death - philly-archives|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-03/sports/35550224_1_teenage-girl-kim-gallagher-jack-fuery|access-date=2021-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821172518/http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-03/sports/35550224_1_teenage-girl-kim-gallagher-jack-fuery|archive-date=August 21, 2016}} In 1983, she abandoned her studies at the University of Arizona because they interfered with her training. She married John Corcoran of Oreland, Pennsylvania, where the couple made their home.

Death

After the 1988 Olympics, Gallagher was diagnosed with colon cancer. She refused chemotherapy and used vitamins, diet and rest as a remedy, which initially appeared effective. But the cancer reemerged in 1994. In her last years, she used a wheelchair and died from a stroke, aged 38.Ron Reid (November 20, 2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150914194730/http://articles.philly.com/2002-11-20/sports/25354650_1_bronze-medal-performance-olympics-silver Olympic runner Kim Gallagher dead of a stroke The Philadelphian, who won medals in the 1984 and 1988 Games, was 38]. philly.com

References