Two photos that changed the world marathon village

Kathrine Switzer (left) and Sophie Power changed the world of running.

Born in two different countries, 35 years apart, the moments captured in the two photos of Kathrine and Sophie not only marked a turning point in their respective careers, but also contributed to changing the way the world viewed the role of women in marathons.

Kathrine and a photo from the Boston Marathon

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, a 20-year-old girl from the US, became the center of global media attention when she participated in the Boston Marathon – the world's oldest marathon.

Registering under the initials KV Switzer to conceal her gender, Kathrine was spotted and attacked on the course by the race director when he realized a woman was participating in his race.

"It was a very aggressive attack," Kathrine said. "He was shouting 'Get out of my race' until my boyfriend pushed him away. At the time, people believed that women were too weak and fragile to run long distances. But I looked at the rules and there was nothing against women participating."

Despite the incident, Kathrine finished the race in 4 hours and 20 minutes. Five years later, in 1972, the Boston Marathon officially allowed women to participate.

In that race, Kathrine finished third and received the trophy from the man who had snatched her number off her back. Looking back, she proudly said: "I look at my face at 20 years old and I'm really proud that I stood up, determined to finish the race and prove that women deserve to run."

The photo capturing the moment Kathrine was attacked, along with her race number 261, became an inspirational symbol for the global women's running movement.

Sophie Power and the photo that caused a storm

Like Kathrine, Sophie Power, a British athlete, suddenly became the center of media attention through an iconic photo.

In 2018, at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) – the prestigious ultra marathon – Sophie was photographed breastfeeding her 3-month-old son mid-race.

Sophie breastfeeds her son mid-race.

The photo went viral and sparked a discussion about the barriers women face in sports . The story dates back to 2014, when Sophie qualified for the UTMB but lost her place because she was pregnant with her first child.

"They wouldn't let me defer my registration because they thought it was my choice to get pregnant. If I had been injured, I would have been allowed to defer my registration," she shared.

When she became eligible to apply again in 2018, Sophie had just given birth to her second child three months earlier. Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity, she decided to enter even though her body was still not fully recovered.

Sophie recalls the moment the photo was taken: “A photographer came up to my husband and asked if he could take a picture. I thought if the organisers saw this photo they would realise I should have been running my dream race when I was healthy, not three months postpartum when my body wasn’t ready.”

Sophie is now a British ultra-marathoner and in 2024 she will set a world record by running 558km across Ireland in three and a half days.

Sophie (left) and Kathrine are two inspirational women in running.

The viral photo elevated her profile, helping her found SheRACES, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the racing experience for women.

Kathrine and Sophie’s efforts have helped boost female participation in running. According to Sport England, by November 2024, the number of runners in the UK will have increased by around 300,000 in 12 months, with women making up more than 80% of this figure.

Sophie shared when meeting Kathrine for the first time: “It was amazing to meet Kathrine, who is such an inspiration to me. What she did with her photography and the huge change she fought for was so worth learning from.”

Two photos, two stories, two eras – but together Kathrine Switzer and Sophie Power have made history for women’s running. From fighting gender bias at the 1967 Boston Marathon to a new mother conquering the 2018 ultramarathon, the pair have turned difficult moments into motivation to inspire and promote gender equality in running.

Source: https://znews.vn/hai-buc-anh-lam-thay-doi-lang-marathon-the-gioi-post1590223.html