Gabe Grunewald Is Having Cancer Surgery Today

Gabe Grunewald Is Having Cancer Surgery Today

One week ago, Gabe Grunewald announced she had a cancerous tumor in her liver. Today, Grunewald is undergoing surgery to become a three-time cancer survivor

Aug 26, 2016 by Meg Bellino
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One week ago, Gabe Grunewald announced she had a cancerous tumor in her liver. Today, Grunewald is undergoing surgery to become a three-time cancer survivor.


Grunewald, 30, was first diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma in 2009 during her fifth-year season at the University of Minnesota. After surgery and treatment were successful, she competed for the Gophers one last season and finished runner-up in the NCAA 1500m.

Then, in October of 2010, Grunewald was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Back in 2011, FloTrack spoke with Gabe on beating cancer twice:


On Tuesday, Grunewald said she would undergo surgery to remove the tumor, a metastatic recurrence of adenoid cystic carcinoma, in her liver today, with the hopes of recovering enough to attend her brother's wedding on September 3.


Grunewald told Runner's World that because the tumor is one single mass, and since the liver can regenerate itself, she should "wake up from surgery cancer-free on Friday."

Grunewald was fourth in the 2012 Olympic Trials 1500m and won her first U.S. title indoors in 2014 in the 3000m. This spring, she competed in the 5000m and 1500m at the Olympic trials, where she advanced to the finals of the 1500m and finished 12th. She holds personal bests of 2:01/4:01/15:19.

Grunewald posted to Instagram this morning: