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Kathrine Switzer

Kathrine Switzer Quotes

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Kathrine Switzer is a renowned author and advocate for sports. Born on January 5, 1947, she is best known for her groundbreaking participation in the 1972 Boston Marathon. Switzer was one of the first women to complete the marathon, challenging gender boundaries and promoting equality in sports for women.

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Famous Kathrine Switzer Quotes

“1967 race in Boston changed not just my life, but millions of women's lives. There are also things that, when you get older, resonate more.”

Race Millions Changed Boston

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“Most people don't know this but over the course of time, the official of the race in 1967 in Boston, who attacked me Jock Semple and I became very good friends. That gave me a whole new perspective on forgiveness.”

People Knows Whole Courses Race Perspective Very Good Officials Good Friend Boston Jocks New Perspective Very Good Friends

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“I forgave Jock Semple his action on Boston race just around the time I got to Heartbreak Hill. I had 24 miles to go and you cannot run 24 miles and stay angry. That's the truth. When we go out and we're mad at our boss or mad at the world, when we run, we get it out of our system.”

World Running Action Race Angry Mad Miles Hills Boss Boston Jocks Miles To Go

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“Jock Semple and I were at daggers drawn for five years, even though I kind of forgave him from the get-go. I knew he was an over-stressed race director, I knew he was protecting his race. It took five years because we had to do our homework - meaning we women - we did our legislative work and we officially got into the Boston Marathon. Then, all was forgiven by Jock Semple.”

Years Kind Race Five Directors Five Years Forgiven Boston Marathon Stressed Homework Daggers Jocks Boston Marathon

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“Jock Semple said "Oh the women ran well today the Boston Marathon and they deserve to be in the race." I had to laugh. I said "Well it took us five years but anyway, we're here." It pretty much changed everything.”

Years Wells Said Today Race Laughing Five Changed Deserve Ran Five Years Boston Marathon Jocks Boston Marathon

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“When I forgave Jock Semple on Heartbreak Hill, I also got really cross with women. I couldn't understand why they didn't get it, why they didn't know that running was so cool and why they weren't in the race as well. Then I thought to myself "How stupid can you be? You've had so much encouragement and motivation and these women haven't."”

Knows Wells Running Motivation Race Havens Stupid Crosses Encouragement Hills Be You Jocks

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“When I finished the Boston race in 1967, there were two things I wanted to do. I wanted to become a better athlete because my first marathon was 4:20. In those days, that was considered a jogging time and I knew people were going to tease me. But I was more fascinated with what women could do if they only had the chance.”

People Ifs Firsts Two Wanted Chance Race Athlete Finished Two Things Fascinated Boston Marathon Tease Jogging Tease Me

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“Five years after Boston 1967, I went to the Munich Olympics. I realized that major sponsorship could help me create the opportunity. I wrote a big proposal to Avon cosmetics on how creating a global series of women's races could lead to getting women in the Olympic marathon. People thought I was smoking poppy at the time. The longest event in the Olympic Games was 800m.”

“I organized this global series of races. The data from those races, along with the tremendous amount of lobbying and meetings with federations, convinced the IOC. We got the women's marathon in the Olympic Games in 1984. That was my dream.”

Dream Games Race Amount Meetings Series Convinced Data Organized Marathon Olympic Games Federation Lobbying

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“When I got the women's marathon into the Olympics and we had races all over the world I thought, 'That's great, now we're heading towards total equality.' Then you see that there are women who are still not allowed to drive, get an education, or travel unless they have a male companion or can't carry their passport. There are those who are mired with incredible poverty in North Africa, the mid-east, South East Asia and there's a ridiculous amount of human trafficking.”

About the Author

Born: January 5, 1947
Known for: Author
Quotes: 33

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Books & Sources

Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's SportsRelated source material

Running & Walking for Women Over 40Related source material

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