Stadium named after first woman registered in Boston Marathon
A part-time Wellingtonian and women’s running trailblazer has had a stadium named after her in France.
Kathrine Switzer was the first registered woman to run in the Boston Marathon, and spends half of her time in Wellington and the rest in her native United States.
The stadium, in Dunkirk, was named Stade d’Athle´tisme Kathrine Switzer, or Kathrine Switzer Stadium, in an official inauguration ceremony on September 14.
Switzer had made history when she competed in the 1967 Boston Marathon. She registered as K. Switzer, which allowed her to officially register in the traditionally men-only race.
The event was made famous by race official Jock Semple’s attempt to remove her from the field, and the ensuing scuffle between him and Switzer’s then-boyfriend Thomas Miller. She went on to complete the race and become the symbol of women’s determination and persistence in the sport.
Switzer said she felt ‘‘extremely honoured’’ by the naming of the stadium, and she had been surprised at how emotional it had been for her.
‘‘What they were saying to me was the thing they held most dear about their city, its persistence and determination and fearlessness with the same qualities they believed I shared.’’
She hoped it inspired athletes young and old to ‘‘persist and try’’. However, there were still some strides to be taken in the furtherance of women’s participation and achievement in sport.
Her non-profit 261 Fearless aimed to reach out to ‘‘ordinary’’ and ‘‘marginalised’’ women who ‘‘just don’t think they can do anything’’.
‘‘They only need someone to show them and a group to support them.’’
Women athletes also needed ‘‘increased respect’’ from male athletes. ‘‘When serious support ... gets behind women’s participation, it changes the mindset about women as athletes. We can be serious pros too, fill stadiums and get sponsors.’’
Eighty per cent of Dunkirk had been destroyed in World War II, Dunkirk Mayor Patrice Vergriete said.
Switzer had been chosen for the honour because she reflected the ‘‘same determination and fearlessness’’ as the city of Dunkirk. She had made a ‘‘very strong and symbolic statement’’ when she competed in the Boston Marathon in 1967.
The 300-seat stadium includes a 400 metre, eight-lane track with a 145 metre straight for sprint races, as well as throwing areas for javelin, discus and hammer competitions, and areas for high-jump, triple-jump, long-jump and pole vault.