Dogsledding
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff
- In 1974 Mary Shields and Lolly Medley became the first two women to race in the Iditarod. Shields placed 23rd while Medley came in 26 minutes after her in 24th.
- Libby Riddles was the first woman to win the Alaskan dogsled race, the Iditarod, in 1985. She mushed her 13-dog team over 1,100 miles across Alaska's ice fields and snowcapped mountains. It took her just over 18 days to make this grueling trek though blinding blizzards.
- Susan Butcher, the most famous female dogsled musher in the world, was a four-time winner of the Iditarod. She won the race in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990. She was named outstanding woman athlete of the world in 1989.
- Deedee Jonrowe has both the fastest time of any woman in the history of the Iditarod and 13 top 10 finishes in her career. In her most recent Iditarod in 2006, she placed fourth with a time of 9 d 16 h 25 m 50 s.
See also: