Maria de Lurdes Mutola, a former Mozambican athlete and record holder in the women's 800 meters, will be honored in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States of America.

This will be the second time that the "golden girl" has been honored in the city where she lived for more than 16 years.

The tribute to Maria de Lurdes Mutola is a way of eternalizing her achievements in the Prefontaine Classic, an annual race in Oregon, which the Mozambican won every edition while living in that city.

According to a publication in "O País", to pay tribute to the athlete, who is by the way the winner of The Prefontaine Classic, the organizers will officially dedicate this year's women's 800-metre races and those of all future years to Maria Mutola.

The "Mutola 800m" at The Prefontaine Classic promises to continue welcoming some of the world's fastest middle-distance athletes each year and pays homage to Mutola's chosen event.

It should be remembered that Maria de Lurdes Mutola won 16 races at The Prefontaine Classic during her career, with 12 of those victories coming in the 800-metre races.

"When we think of athletic dominance at The Prefontaine Classic, Maria Mutola is always one of the first athletes who comes to mind," said Pre Classic co-director Jody Smith, quoted in the publication. "We are honored to continue the legacy she has built as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of the era through this dedication to the event," he added.

In 1990, Maria de Lurdes Mutola moved to Oregon as part of the Olympic Solidarity Program and attended Springfield High School, located three and a half miles (just over seven 800m runs) from Hayward Field.

Mutola moved back to South Africa in the early 1990s, but was still coached by Margo Jennings, her high school coach while running for the Millers.

The gold medallist in the 800 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games also has three World Athletics Championship titles in the same event and holds seven gold medals from the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

His 1999 run of 2:30.94 minutes in the 1000 meter race still stands as the short track world record.

This is the second time that Maria de Lurdes Mutola has been honored in the United States, the first being in Oregon in 2022.

Image DR