Libby Riddles facts for kids

Libby Riddles, born on April 1, 1956, is an American dog musher. She made history as the first woman to win the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Early Life and Discovering Mushing

Libby Riddles was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Just before her 17th birthday, she moved to Alaska. There, she saw a sprint dog race. She quickly fell in love with the sport of mushing. Her first race was the Clines Mini Mart Sprint race in 1978. She won first place in that race.

The Road to the Iditarod

Libby competed in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1980 and 1981. She finished 18th and 20th in those races. To improve, she decided to breed her own sled dogs. She moved to Shaktoolik, Alaska, and worked as a fish seller. During this time, she also trained her dogs. Later, she moved to Teller, Alaska. There, she met Joe Garnie. They became partners and worked together to breed and train dogs.

Making History in the Iditarod

On March 20, 1985, Libby Riddles won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This was a huge moment because she was the very first woman to ever win the race. After her big win, Libby wrote three books about her adventures. She also became a professional speaker, sharing her story with others. In 2007, her amazing Iditarod victory was honored. It was added as a "Hall of Fame Moment" into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.