Two-time Olympic participant walked the grounds of Guelph before running towards success
The University of Guelph is known for its ability to make most feel right at home. That is very much the case for Kathy Butler, a Scottish long distance runner who has experienced success ranging from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level, to national achievement, to topping off her athletic career as a two-time Olympic participant.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, an 11-year-old Butler and her parents moved to Canada after spending a few years in London, England. Before climbing the ladder of athletic success, Butler began her journey at the University of Guelph. Despite later graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Butler still credits Guelph for providing the stable foundation she needed in the beginning. “It was the perfect place for me at the time,” Butler explains. “I don’t think I was ready straight out of high school to compete in the NCAA Division I, so having the opportunity to compete at the [Canadian Interuniversity Sport] level was just right for me.”
The University of Guelph paid tribute to Butler in 2005, when the long distance runner was inducted into the hall of fame. “It was very nice to be remembered,” Butler says of the induction. “I always had very fond memories of being on the team, competing for and living in Guelph. It was a great honour to be given.”
After her time as a Gryphon, Butler’s career took off when she became a four-time NCAA Champion with three straight outdoor 3,000 metre wins (1995, ’96, ’97) and one cross country victory (1995). In the 1995 to ’96 season, Butler was also the recipient of the Honda Sports Award, given to the best female athlete in collegiate athletics.
Thriving off the strong success and accomplishments at the university level, Butler – still a student – began her career as an Olympian at the 1996 Atlanta games, competing in the 5,000 metre race. “The 1996 Olympics were an amazing experience for me. I was so young, especially for longer distance events,” Butler explains. “I trained really hard and enjoyed the experience. I tried to soak up as much of the Olympics as I could.”
Eight years later, and one Olympics removed, Butler faced the 2004 games in Athens with a matured mindset. “I was really focused on doing everything I could to run the best possible race my body could achieve,” she explains. “Having already done all the extra things in 1996, I didn’t feel like I was missing out when I didn’t get into the village until four days before my race. It really allowed me to focus.” That extra focus and experience paid off as Butler finished in an incredible 12th place in the 10,000 metre race with a time of 31:40.
Yet Butler is no stranger to obstacles along the way. The first hurdle came in 1994, when the runner was diagnosed with Graves’ disease – an autoimmune illness causing an overactive thyroid. “The diagnosis came just as I was planning to leave Guelph and start at the University of Wisconsin,” Butler explains of the career-threatening illness. “I had just decided to make this major change in my life, and I didn’t know if I would even be able to run.”
The second bump in the road came in 2002 when Butler was hit with osteitis pubis, a pelvic condition common in runners and other athletes. “I think in both cases it actually made me more stubborn to succeed, and once I was able to, I trained even harder to make up for lost time,” she says of the attitude she maintained during these discouraging times. “It usually just made me want to be successful more when things weren’t going well.”
Butler has now made the transition from athlete to coach. “I think all of my coaches throughout my career continue to inspire and influence me. I think having coaches that believed in me even more than I did myself was a big defining part of my athletic career,” Butler explains of the transition. “Coaching-wise, I still feel like I am building my career. It’s great to be able to give back to the sport that has given me so much in my life.”