After a decade-long battle with cancer, Championship runner Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald, has died.
She was 32.
Grunewald inspired thousands of people by sharing her lengthy fight against cancer in public.
The former track and cross-country athlete was first diagnosed with a rare metastatic cancer in 2009.
On Tuesday, her husband wrote on Instagram that Gabriele Grunewald died “peacefully with no suffering”.
His update featured two photos of the couple running side-by-side.
”At 7:52 I said “I can’t wait until I get to see you again” to my hero, my best friend, my inspiration, my wife. @gigrunewald I always felt like the Robin to your Batman and I know I will never be able to fill this gaping hole in my heart or fill the shoes you have left behind. Your family loves you dearly as do your friends.When @chipgaines made the final push in his #chipinchallenge I could feel your happiness building and could also see that this made you ready to head up to heaven. Chip thanks for helping her to go up so peacefully with no suffering.To everyone else from all ends of the earth, Gabriele heard your messages and was so deeply moved. She wants you to stay brave and keep all the hope in the world. Thanks for helping keep her brave in her time of need ???”
Gonna need you guys to send me some extra #Brave vibes tonight as I am so, so very bummed that I won’t be able to make…
Posted by Gabriele Grunewald on Saturday, May 4, 2019
Despite her fatal cancer diagnosis, Gabe continued to train and race.
She won the US championship over 3,000m indoors in 2014 and she is still the 12th-fastest American woman in history over 1500m.
During this time, Gabe would beat cancer several times. But it returned multiple times over the next decade.
The news of her death came quickly. Two days ago, Gabe was brought home from the hospital for comfort care.
Her husband, Justin, kept the couple’s followers updated with the sad circumstances around Gabe’s declining health.
Justin asked everyone to send “one last message” to Gabe before she “heads up to heaven.”
She passed away after having returned home from the hospital to be with friends and family after the decision to forego any further treatment.
My condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends.
R.I.P. Beautiful Angel!
