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Katherine Switzer, first registered woman to complete the Boston Marathon, with her fellow runners interfering with an official's attempt to remove her bib number, USA, 1967 (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/historyporn@lemmy.world

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Athlete solidarity, you love to see it

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[-] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 40 points 2 months ago

Later in life, Semple [the name of the official] reversed his position on women competing in the marathon. According to Marja Bakker (a later organizer of the race), "Once the rule was adjusted and women were allowed in the race, Jock was one of their staunchest supporters. He was very progressive." Semple later publicly reconciled with Switzer. "Old Jock Semple and I became the best of friends," she told a reporter in 2015. "It took a long time: six years. But we became best of friends."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Semple

[-] treadful@lemmy.zip 33 points 2 months ago

Almost jarring to hear about someone changing their mind.

[-] TheFriar@lemm.ee 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

People were less educated back then. They didn’t realize that you were supposed to dig your heels in and the more opposition you get—from experts, humanists, caring volunteers who dedicate their lives to helping the disenfranchised people you hate—means you should only think what you think harder, louder, and more in everyone’s face. Crazy to see how far we’ve come.

[-] stoly@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago

That was really lovely

[-] cabbage@piefed.social 10 points 2 months ago

Took for the unjust rule to be adjusted for him to change his position though.

I guess it's a powerful example that even bootlickers can be good people if you give them the right boots to lick.

[-] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Reading his Wikipedia article gives the impression that he is somewhat special.

However, looking on the cite of the director of BAA, Will Cloney, in the Wikipedia article on Switzer, made me feel glad I didn't have breakfast yet:

Boston Athletic Association director Will Cloney—who had rejected Bobbi Gibb's entry into the 1966 Boston Marathon giving as his reason his claim that women could not run that far—was asked his opinion of Switzer competing in the race. Although Gibb had completed the marathon the previous year with a good time, the race rule book made no mention of gender, and Switzer had a valid race registration, Cloney said: "Women can't run in the Marathon because the rules forbid it. Unless we have rules, society will be in chaos. I don't make the rules, but I try to carry them out. We have no space in the Marathon for any unauthorized person, even a man. If that girl were my daughter, I would spank her."