Iconic athlete, sports and social advocate, author and Emmy award-winning television commentator, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially enter and run the Boston Marathon.
Achievements
Sports history changed in 1967 when she officially registered and finished that famous race. It was still a men’s only event in those days and Switzer’s entry created a worldwide uproar when the race director attacked her mid-stride and tried to remove her from the event. The photo of this incident flashed around the globe and became one of Time-Life’s '100 Photos that Changed the World'. Radicalised by the incident, Switzer campaigned for sports equality for women and to create opportunities for them.
Official status came in the Boston Marathon in 1972; later that year she was one of the creators of the first women’s road race...and the women’s running boom was on. Switzer went on to run 39 marathons and won the New York City Marathon in 1974. She ran her personal best in 1975, finishing second in Boston (2:51:33). She then put her substantial energies into creating the Avon International Running Circuit of women’s only races in 27 countries with over a million women participating from 1978 to the present time. It was this series of events, which showed global participation and performances that largely convinced the IOC to include a women’s marathon for the first time in the 1984 Olympic Games. Because of its global impact, Switzer regards her work for the first women’s Olympic Marathon to be her greatest accomplishment.
Television
Kathrine is an Emmy award-winning TV commentator and has covered the Olympic Games, World and National Championships as well as the New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and every televised edition of the Boston Marathon (34 consecutive years!).
Current work
She is a dynamic public speaker, journalist and author of three books, including her memoir, Marathon Woman, which is currently being made into a feature film. Other books include, 26.2 Marathon Stories, co-authored with her husband, Roger Robinson, and Running and Walking for Women Over 40.
Switzer speaks, commentates and runs all over the globe, and at 66 is still running marathons, having completed the Berlin Marathon in 2011 to launch the German edition of 'Marathon Woman'. She also won her age group in the extremely difficult 2011 Motatapu off-road mountain marathon in New Zealand, and in 2010 fulfilled a lifetime dream of running the 2500th anniversary race of the Athens Marathon.
Awards
In 2011 she was inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame, it was not just for breaking barriers but also for creating positive global social change. Because of her, millions of women are now empowered by the simple act of running. Or as Kathrine says, “It’s not about running. It’s about changing people’s lives.”
Switzer’s Career Highlights include:
• Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in October 2011 for creating positive global social change
• Winner, 1974 NYC Marathon
• Broke Gender Barrier at 1967 Boston Marathon
• Emmy Award-winning TV commentator
• Author, Marathon Woman, Running and Walking for Women Over 40, the Road to Sanity and Vanity, co-author 26.2 Marathon Stories
• Founder and former director of the Avon Running Global Women’s Circuit- 400 races, 27 countries, 1 million women
• Winner of Abebe Bikila Award for Global Contribution to Sport of Running from New York Road Runners
• First class of inductees into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
• Named one of the Visionaries of the Century (2000) and a Hero of Running (2012), and Runner of the Decade (1966-76) by Runners World Magazine
Video
Kathrine Switzer | First Woman to Enter the Boston Marathon
Kathrine Switzer on the prejudices women athletes faced, her historic Boston Marathon run, and the doors it opened for other women athletes. Kathrine Switzer wasn't the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, but her presence as an official entrant made her a visible and potent threat to the sports world's status quo. The simple gesture exploded when an official attacked Switzer on the course. The incident was broadcasted worldwide and put a shocking face on the hostility to women's full participation in athletics. Her 38 subsequent marathons (she's still running them) include a win in New York in 1974. She led the successful drive to get the women's race into the Olympic Games, has won an Emmy for her TV commentary, and is the author of three books, including her memoir, Marathon Woman. Switzer's ongoing campaign to help women around the globe empower themselves through the simple act of running made her a 2011 Inductee into the National Women's Hall of Fame.Kathrine presented exceptionally well. She was ideal to finish the conference with. The audience was enthralled and enjoyed it very much. Katherine was able to tie back her life experience a ... keep reading TOWER Financial Advisory Services
Kathrine identified with our group. The audience reaction was very positive.
Kathrine spoke well and used humour to "warm" the audience.
Kathrine is a delight to work with. She took the time to listen to other speakers and then referenced them in her talk. This reflected well on Kathrine and also on the conference. We ask our delegates to rate speakers from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest) and Kathrine predominantly scored 5’s.
