Perham native, Gabriele "Gabe" Grunewald, 32, died Tuesday at her Minneapolis home according to her husband, Justin Grunewald.
A post shared by Justin Grunewald (@justingrunewald1) on Jun 11, 2019 at 6:35pm PDT
Grunewald was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma - a rare form of cancer in the saliva glands - in 2009 as a member of the Univesity of Minnesota track and cross country teams. She captivated the running world, competing collegiately and professionally despite her diagnosis.
In 2010, she finished second in the 1,500 meter run at the NCAA championships following surgery and radiation therapy. Her journey continued in the 2012 Olympic trials, where she failed to qualify by one spot, finishing fourth. She then became the 2014 U.S. indoor champion in the 3,000. She continued running through 2017, battling through treatments for cancer in her thyroid and liver.
Grunewald gained thousands of social media followers as she shared her cancer battle and running career.
She also adopted the motto "Brave Like Gabe."





