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On April 21, 1980, Rosie Ruiz won the women's division of the Boston Marathon, with the third fastest time ever (for a woman), 2 hrs. 31 min. 56 sec. But no one had seen her running the race. None of the officials monitoring the race (at various check points) had seen her. None of the runners, men or women, had seen her. Some of the female runners had hopes of first place, and might notice a woman ahead of them, or passing them. Then spectators came forward, claiming Rosie had come out of the crowd of spectators and run the last half mile. She was disqualified.
Rosie had qualified for the Boston Marathon by finishing highly in the New York Marathon. Evidence came to light that she had started that race, but had taken a shortcut by subway, and then finished the race.
She probably would never have been found out if she had finished back in the pack, but she had accidentally won the race. Oops.