Kathrine Switzer is an iconic athlete, activist, and author.
As a female athlete, I am constantly on the lookout for positive role models, not just for myself, but for my children. A big part of staying physically motivated is to find people within the fitness culture that inspire you.
Kathrine Switzer is one such person.
Though she is a natural born athlete, in her teens women weren’t allowed to compete in the same categories as men. She began spurring social change when she asked the men’s cross country coach in college if she could train with the men. She cemented her claim to fame in 1967, when she competed in the Boston Marathon, which was only open to men at the time. One of the co-directors literally tried to pull her from the race, but she continued on and finished, making history for female athletes everywhere.
This is just one example of how this incredible woman uses her platform to support women everywhere. Since that day she has dedicated her life to effecting social change. Here are five more reasons to add Kathrine Switzer to your list of inspirational women.
-She has run the Boston Marathon 8 times, improving her time from 4 hours, 20 minutes to 2 hours, 51 minutes. Talk about never giving up!
-Due to this time, Switzer attained the ranking of 3rd fastest woman in the US and 6th fastest woman in the world.
-She is the last woman to have won the New York City Marathon.
-She has been inducted in the U.S.A National Women’s Hall of Fame for creating positive global social change.
READ MORE: Five Female Olympic Athletes to Watch
-She has won an Emmy for her work as a TV commentator.
Now more than ever, its important to remind our daughters that they can break barriers in this world, and even though the glass ceiling still exists, it is made of glass.
Women like Kathrine Switzer serve to remind us that anything is possible, and that is as important in athletics, as it is in life.
