IT was amazing to hear that 71-year-old Kathrine Switzer from the US ran in the London marathon last weekend. The reason isn’t Kathrine’s age, and whilst I believe publicising this information isn’t necessary, it is relevant for this piece.
The amazing thing that I am referring to is that Kathrine was the first women to run the Boston marathon back in 1967, when she was 20-years-old and caused quite a stir at that time.
There is a great YouTube video with Kathrine narrating her story – interspersed with some black-and-white footage of the event itself. She tells us that having registered using only her initials, she received no opposition at that time, and with the support of her coach and boyfriend, Kathrine participated in the run.
All didn’t go to plan as Jock Semple, the race director and a homegrown Scot who had immigrated to America, caught site of her amongst the pack of runners. It wasn’t a pretty site to see the venom and distaste on his face as he physically tried to grab the number 261 from her and push her off the course. To the credit of the rest of the runners they intervened and supported Kathrine to complete the race.
Often when I am doing a presentation about gender equity in sport I use this clip. It is only 50 years ago, and to some of us, that just feels like last week! However to a lot of the athletes, both male and female, it feels like another world away. That is why it is important that we recognise the role that women like Kathrine have played in securing sport for everyone.
The history of women in sport is still an untold tale and that is one of the reasons that SW/S decided to create a Hall of Fame to recognise the achievements of so many women in sport that have largely gone unrecorded. Our Pioneers in Sport lunch is on Sunday May 6, and we have four pioneers to be inducted alongside four current leaders: Marjorie Langmuir, Isabel Newstead, Edna Nellie, Helen Graham.
Tickets for the lunch in the GoGlasgow Hotel, can be reserved through this link: goo.gl/Mm8ome – hope to see you there!
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