Born: 1947 (Amberg, Germany)
Biography:
Kathrine Virginia Switzer, an American marathon runner, author, and television commentator, made history in 1967 as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor. Born on January 5, 1947, in Amberg, Germany, Kathrine’s family returned to the United States in 1949 where she grew up. She graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, before attending Lynchburg College and later transferring to Syracuse University in 1967 to study journalism and English literature. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Syracuse in 1968 and earned a master’s degree in 1972.
In 1967, after transferring to Syracuse, Kathrine sought permission to train with the men’s cross-country running program. Despite objections from cross-country assistant coach Arnie Briggs, who believed that a marathon was too far for a fragile woman to run, Kathrine convinced him to allow her to prove herself in practice. She trained extensively, taking on challenging courses in Syracuse and the roads between Syracuse and Cazenovia, New York, 20 miles away.
Her determination led her to the 1967 Boston Marathon, where she aimed to defy the societal norms and prove that women were more than capable of completing the grueling race distance. While the rule book for the Boston Marathon did not explicitly mention gender, it was widely understood that women were banned from official competition. The AAU, which governed the Marathon, had declared that women could not participate in AAU-sanctioned races over a mile and a half.
Prior to Kathrine’s groundbreaking run, other women had already challenged the exclusion of women from premier athletic events. In 1966, Bobbi Gibb attempted to enter the Boston Marathon but was rejected by BAA Director Will Cloney, who claimed that women were physiologically incapable of running 26 miles. Undeterred, Gibb secretly joined the race and finished ahead of two-thirds of the runners. However, she wore no bib number, avoiding official recognition.
On April 19, 1967, Kathrine Switzer boldly approached the starting line of the Boston Marathon as an official registrant under the name K. V. Switzer. Equipped with a bib number pinned to her running gear, she triggered a firestorm of controversy and made headlines worldwide. Midway through the race, race manager Jock Semple attempted to remove her from official competition by grabbing her bib number. In the process, he knocked down her trainer and fellow runner, Arnie Briggs, who had been accompanying her. Switzer’s boyfriend, Thomas Miller, fiercely defended her by shoving Semple to the ground, allowing her to continue the race, despite the chaos. She completed the marathon in four hours and twenty minutes, proving that women had the strength, endurance, and determination to conquer the 26.2-mile distance.
Kathrine Switzer’s courageous participation in the Boston Marathon not only shattered gender barriers but also thrust the issue of women’s participation in sports into the spotlight. The incident gained significant media attention, sparking public debate and highlighting the need for gender equality in athletics. Subsequently, the AAU banned women from competing in races against men. It took until 1972 for the Boston Marathon to finally establish an official women’s race.
Beyond her trailblazing marathon run, Switzer continued to make significant contributions to the running community. She competed in more than thirty marathons throughout her career, finishing the New York City Marathon in 1974 in an impressive 3:07:29. In 1975, she won the Avon International Marathon in 2:51:37, establishing herself as one of the top female marathon runners of her time.
Switzer’s passion for promoting women’s sports extended beyond her own athletic achievements. She became an advocate for women’s running and helped create opportunities for female athletes on both national and global levels. Switzer played a crucial role in securing the inclusion of a women’s marathon in the inaugural Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in 1984. Her efforts paid off, and Joan Benoit Samuelson went on to win the gold medal, forever solidifying the significance of the women’s marathon in athletic history.
As an influential figure in women’s sports, Kathrine Switzer has inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams and challenge the limitations placed upon them by society. Her remarkable journey from being assaulted on the Boston Marathon course to becoming a respected commentator and advocate for gender equality in sports showcases the power of resilience and determination. Switzer’s legacy continues to inspire generations of athletes and remains an integral part of women’s history.