Suddenly a slim woman with a big smile on his face he enters the room. Nobody goes unnoticed, because arouse everyone’s admiration. Is about a person who forever marked the history of sport and continues to do so.
With utter humility she quickly advances, takes the initiative and start congratulating us one by one. His look with glassy eyes is that of a very happy, proud and excited for what is happening. He embraces us like someone who has known someone for a lifetime and he is delighted in a very authentic way to see the medals hanging in each of the corridors, as if she was the one who just ran. It is not for less, because kathrine switzer He knows very well what a marathon runner feels at this moment.
He was born in Amberg, Germany, the January 5, 1947though lived most of his life in the United States. From a very young age she was passionate about sports and she began her path as a runner at the age of 12. In April 1967 she did what a woman had never done before: put on the bib and run a marathon.
Although today it sounds incredible, at that time women were not allowed to participate in most sports disciplines for being considered fragile and weak. In this context, it was believed not only that they could not complete a race of more than 42 kilometers, but also that these attempts could bring them serious health problems. Nevertheless, Kathrine, at 20 years old, was very clear that she wanted to run the Boston Marathon and how couldn’t sign up as the forms didn’t accept women –he got a number by writing down his initials and his last name: “KV Switzer”.
Once in the competition the test director noticed its presence and tried to remove it violently shouting “I left my race and give me back my number”, while trying to tear it off. His coach, his partner and other runners stopped the struggling and pushing, and Kathy was able to keep running. The photos of that moment are today some of the most iconic images in sports history.
In various interviews, Kathy He assured that she was willing to finish the race at any cost.since if it was not completed, no one would believe that women can do it: finally crossed the finish line after 4 hours and 20 minutes. Not only did he hang his finisher’s medal, but he showed the world that, far from taboos, false beliefs and stereotypes, women are capable of running a marathon and thus marked the way for the creation of a women’s division in this sport. His achievement was such that five years later women were officially allowed to enter and compete in the Boston Marathon.
Since then, kathy switzer inspires all of us who love to runbecause his passion and his strength remain stainless, as in that April of 1967. It is that there is still much to do and as proof of this today the percentage of women and non-binary people who manage to cross the finish line of the New York City Marathon is still lower than that of menwhich indicates that there is still a long way to go.
That is why Kathy today is an active part of the “Michelob Ultra Run Fund”a Michelob Ultra initiative that seeks continue to break gender barriers in sport Y encourage inclusion Through the financing the cost of participation of the marathon for women and non-binary people from 2023.
55 years ago, Kathy’s marathon was a victory for all women that opened doors in the rights to participate in activities until then ridiculously prohibited. That 20-year-old girl with her number 261 began to write a story in which there is no place for expressions like “you can’t because you’re weak.” ANDThat story continues to be written and explains why she gets so genuinely excited by every marathon runner. His sacred fire lives on. In each hug, in each look with her glassy eyes, she is actually inviting us to continue and expand the path, proving to everyone that running is much more than just moving your legs. Also with sport we can move the world.
marathon runner and journalist
Source: Ambito
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