She was in pain. She was a mess. And she thought about dropping out of the race. Pippig said shyly. It can't be easy to stay the course when you are exposed in this manner before television cameras and hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Vanity is one thing.
Dignity is another. And then there's pain. She won because she found something to keep her going after Heartbreak Hill. And she won because Loroupe developed leg cramps and could not hold the lead. The images are vivid.