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Quote by 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.”

Quote by Kathrine Switzer

Author

Kathrine Switzer

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. more

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“Jock Semple and I began appearing at speeches together and he came up to me on the start line in 1973 and planted a big kiss on my cheek. He said in his Scottish brogue: "Come on lass, let's get a wee bit of notoriety." He never said he was sorry but that was his way of saying it, I'm sure.”

Way Said Bigs Together Bits Lines Kissing Speech Sorry Cheeks Appearing Scottish Jocks Notoriety Brogues

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“A picture, of Jock Semple kissed me,appeared in The New York Times the next day after Boston Marathon in 1973, and the caption was "The end of an era."”

Ends Next New York Eras Next Day Boston Marathon New York Times Jocks Caption 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."”

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Author:Kathrine Switzer

“Women were afraid and they would never even imagine running a marathon in 1967.”

Running Imagine Marathon Running Marathon

Author:Kathrine Switzer

“I always say that talent and capability is everywhere, all it needs is opportunity.”

Needs Opportunity Talent Capability

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

“I said that there's going to come a day in our lives when women's running is as popular and as men's. Looking back, I obviously had a great sense of vision. And I was right.”

Men Said Running Vision Our Lives Looking Back

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.”

“There's a whole form of literature in India which talks about the quest for the perfect man by a woman, where every woman looks for a perfect man but only ends up with half that.”

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“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