Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
By 1990, Rosa Mota became the first woman to win the Boston Marathon three times in the race’s open era, with victories in 1987, 1988, and 1990. Before official female participation, Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb and Sara Mae Berman each finished first three times during the pioneer era, when women were not formally allowed to compete.
Mota's accomplishments extend beyond Boston. She won the inaugural women's championship marathon at the 1982 European Championships in Athens, and became the first woman to achieve both world and Olympic marathon titles by winning the World Championships in 1987 and the Olympic Games in 1988. Her 1987 World Championship win was particularly dominant, finishing over seven minutes ahead.
At the 1987 Boston Marathon, Mota finished in 2:25:21, defeating Belgium's Agnes Pardaens by 4 minutes and 29 seconds. In 1988, she improved her time to 2:24:30, finishing nearly five minutes ahead of Finland's Tuija Jousimaa. In 1990, despite challenges with her training and a strong new competitor in Uta Pippig, Mota maintained her pace to claim her third Boston Marathon win.
To commemorate her achievements, Mota donated her winner’s medal from 1987, shoes from 1988, and singlet and bib number from 1990 to the Museum of World Athletics.