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2021 Olympic Games

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish marathoner from North Jersey shatters stereotypes on road to Olympics

Portrait of Deena Yellin Deena Yellin
NorthJersey.com

On the face of it, Beatie Deutsch seems an unlikely celebrity athlete.

The Passaic native is an ultra-Orthodox mother of five who speaks openly about her Jewish faith, prays daily and dresses modestly with a head scarf and knee-length skirt, even while competing. 

Other professional athletes might avoid such outfits for fear of slowing their pace. But the self described "Marathon Mother" – now the face of an international ad campaign for Adidas – has been winning races and breaking records since joining the running circuit five years ago.

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