Gr. Myth. a beautiful, swift-footed maiden who offers to marry any man able to defeat her in a race: Hippomenes wins by dropping three golden apples, which she stops to pick up, along the way
See Atalanta in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(ătˌə-lănˈtə)
noun Greek Mythology
A hunter who agreed to marry any man who could defeat her in a footrace. She was outrun by Hippomenes, who won by dropping along the course three golden apples, which she paused to pick up.