Kathrine Switzer
Kathrine Virginia Switzer (born January 5, 1947) is an American marathon runner, author, and television commentator.
Switzer at the 2011 Berlin Marathon expo | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathrine Virginia Switzer |
| Born | January 5, 1947 Amberg, Germany |
| Education | George C. Marshall High School |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupation(s) | Runner, author |
| Spouses | Tom Miller
(m. 1968; div. 1973)Philip Schaub (divorced)Roger Robinson (m. 1987) |
| Website | www |
In the year 1967, she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor. During her run, the race manager Jock Semple assaulted Switzer, trying to grab her bib number and thereby remove her from official competition. After knocking down Switzer's trainer and fellow runner, Arnie Briggs, when he tried to protect her, Semple was shoved to the ground by Switzer's boyfriend, Thomas Miller, who was running with her, and she completed the race.
As a result of her run, the AAU banned women from competing in races against men. It was not until 1972 that the Boston Marathon established an official women's race.