Although I took a break from writing on sports person, I just felt that this lady made something remarkable.
I meet her at recent Malaysia Women Marathon. I thought she was just a normal marathon runner as the rest, till I read her article.
She became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.
She registered under the gender-neutral "K. V. Switzer", which she insists was not done in an attempt to mislead the officials. She claims to have long used "K. V. Switzer" to sign the articles she wrote for her college paper.
Race official Jock Semple attempted to remove her from the race, and according to Switzer said, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers. However, Switzer's boyfriend Tom Miller, who was running with her, shoved Semple aside and sent him flying. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines.
As a result of her run, the AAU barred women from all competition with male runners, on pain of losing the right to compete. Switzer, with other women runners, tried to convince the Boston Athletic Association to allow women to participate in the marathon. Finally, in 1972, women were welcome to run the Boston Marathon officially for the first time ever and Katrine went on to achieve 2nd place in 1975 edition.
I'm glad she inspired alot of women around the world to take part in marathon.
Of course I'm glad to take a picture with her recently.
Her speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOGXvBAmTsY
Most of us take part in sports to inspire our self, but she ran to inspire the world.
I meet her at recent Malaysia Women Marathon. I thought she was just a normal marathon runner as the rest, till I read her article.
She became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.
She registered under the gender-neutral "K. V. Switzer", which she insists was not done in an attempt to mislead the officials. She claims to have long used "K. V. Switzer" to sign the articles she wrote for her college paper.
Race official Jock Semple attempted to remove her from the race, and according to Switzer said, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers. However, Switzer's boyfriend Tom Miller, who was running with her, shoved Semple aside and sent him flying. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines.
As a result of her run, the AAU barred women from all competition with male runners, on pain of losing the right to compete. Switzer, with other women runners, tried to convince the Boston Athletic Association to allow women to participate in the marathon. Finally, in 1972, women were welcome to run the Boston Marathon officially for the first time ever and Katrine went on to achieve 2nd place in 1975 edition.
I'm glad she inspired alot of women around the world to take part in marathon.
Of course I'm glad to take a picture with her recently.
Her speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOGXvBAmTsY
Most of us take part in sports to inspire our self, but she ran to inspire the world.
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