Kim Gallagher

Kimberly Ann "Kim" Gallagher was an American middle-distance runner who won a silver and a bronze medal at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Records

National high school records">United States high school national records in track and field">National high school records

800 Meters – 2:00.07
3200 Meter Relay – 8:58.43

PIAA state records

800 meters – 2:05.47
1600 meters – 4:41.08
1600-meter relay – 3:49.61
3200-meter relay – 8:58.43

Accomplishments

Gallagher was a High School All-American at Upper Dublin High School, Penn Relays Champion, won twelve PIAA gold medals and was a Pennsylvania State Champion in Track & Field and cross-country. She was inducted into the Pennsylvania Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Penn Relays Hall of Fame in 1996.
In 2005, Gallagher was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Upper Dublin High School as part of the inaugural class.

Personal life

Gallagher took up athletics following her brother Bart, who coached her in her early years. In 1983, she abandoned her studies at the University of Arizona because they interfered with her training. She married John Corcoran of Oreland, Pennsylvania, where the couple made their home.

Death

After the 1988 Olympics, Gallagher was diagnosed with colon cancer. She refused chemotherapy and used vitamins, diet and rest as a remedy, which initially appeared effective. But the cancer reemerged in 1994. In her last years, she used a wheelchair and died from a stroke, aged 38.