Pioneering marathon runner Switzer to race in London

Women were barred from running the Boston Marathon before Switzer challenged the ban, competing under her initials in 1967.





Switzer, who ran in Boston with the bib number 261, gained widespread recognition for completing the race, in a time of four hours and 20 minutes, despite an official's attempt to remove her from the course.

"The streets of London have been an important part of women's running history as well as women's rights," Switzer said in a statement released by London Marathon organizers.

Switzer helped stage the Avon International Women's Marathon in London in 1980, which helped convince the International Olympic Committee to sanction the women's marathon at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

"Ever since then I've wanted to run it also, but have been too busy. Now is the time and I am so honoured and excited to be out there," she added.

Organizers said Switzer, 71, would be given the same bib number for the London race on April 22.









(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world