FORWARD STEPS
Some key dates in the history of women’s running
776 BC
In Ancient Greece, young women take part in the Herean Games, a series of footraces to honour the Greek goddess Hera.
1896
The day after the (men- only) marathon, Greek woman Stamata Revithi runs the marathon course of the first modern Olympic Games.
1922
The first Women’s World Games are held in Paris. More than 15,000 attend.
1926
Londoner Violet Piercy becomes the first woman to run a marathon recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations, finishing in 3:40:22
1928
The Olympic Games opens five track and field events to women. Following erroneous reports of many women collapsing after the 800m, the IOC bans women from running more than 200m.
1954
On May 29, Diane Leather from Staffordshire becomes the first woman to run a mile in under five minutes (4:59.23), 23 days after Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile.
1960
For the first time since 1928, women are allowed to compete in the 800m, in the Rome Olympics. Lyudmila Lysenko from the Soviet Union wins in 2:04.50.
1967
Kathrine Switzer is the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon.
1972
Six women are allowed to run the New York City marathon on the condition they start 10 minutes before the men. At the gun, they sit down in protest.
1979
Norwegian Grete Waitz becomes the first woman to run a sub-2:30 marathon, winning her second New York City Marathon in 2:27:33.
1980
American Mary Decker becomes the first woman to run a mile in under 4:20, running 4:17.55.
1984
The first Olympic women’s marathon is held at the LA Games. Joan Benoit wins in 2:24.52.
2002
Brit Rosie Swale- Pope, the first woman to ‘run around the world’ begins her five-year journey.
2003
Paula Radcliffe runs the London Marathon in 2:15:25, a record that still stands
2012
At the London Olympic Games, 19-year- old Sarah Attar becomes the first woman from Saudi Arabia to compete in an Olympic track and field event.
2014
Jo Pavey wins the 10,000m at the European Championships. At the age of 40 years and 325 days, she’s the oldest female European champion in history.