Women in Sport by Mike Devlin: Bobbi Gibb, The Woman Who Came First Before The Woman Who Was First
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Unfolding events have a funny way of shaping narratives that at first glance catch your attention. They grab the (deserved) headlines, and yet it does not take much upon inspection, which sadly many do not do, to realise that First sometimes means Second.
Katherine Switzer (who we have actually covered in our DWC 100 Women), but, more importantly, Bobbi Gibb fits this perfectly. Switzer is renowned for being the first official female runner in the 1967 Boston Marathon, and was famously tackled mid-race by an organiser to prevent her from finishing as soon as he realised she was not a man. And finish she did.
But the uproar from the assault opened up a discussion on women not just competing with men, but also competing at all. It took a few years of campaigning, but it culminated with her competing in the 1974 New York City Marathon, with a time of 3:07:29, 1st in the women's, and 59th overall.
But none of this was likely to have happened if it were not for Bobbi Gibb.
She had formally requested to run the 1966 Boston Marathon, and relieved a letter containing the following:
Women are not physiologically capable of running a marathon.
The 1960s had seen huge changes, but now that WWII was but a memory, many women were seen - and by many, expected - to be returning to the traditional roles that they had performed for centuries. Anything outside of these 'norms' was still frowned upon and the talk always turned to indecency and sexualisation. Yes, there had been women who had ran such distances before - in the Olympics in fact - but as far as those in charge were concerned it was unbecoming, and quite often the media smeared these women.
Gibb was an accomplished runner (she ran out of the eyes of most) but had never run anything that could be in any way deemed 'official'. On the day of the race, despite not being an official entrant, she took her place wearing a hooded jacket and set off, allowing the faster runners to set the pace.
It was not too long before the men running with her realised that she was not one of them, but they assured her that they would make sure no one would stop her. Those in the actual race were with her all the way, the polar opposite of the men who 'ran' the race.
Along the route was a female university, Wellesey College, and they had gotten wind of a woman in the race. Many lined up awaiting for Gibb to pass them by, and, when she did, they let out a huge cheer for her, something that spurred her on. And she needed it, because her mind, which had been anxious yet thrilled, was now centred on finishing and getting through the pain barrier.
3 hours, 21 minutes, and 40 seconds later to the roar of the crowds at the finish line, she ended up beating two-thirds of all the competitors and was even greeted by Massachusetts State Governor John Volpe, and taken to talk to the press.
Unfortunately, she was barred from attending a gathering by the men who ran with her (and they invited her) because 'no women allowed'.
She ran the 1967 Boston Marathon, alongside Switzer, but it was she who took the fame as the first female official entrant, something that did not sit well with Gibb, despite her being welcomed this time around. Gibb was the first, whether she was official, unofficial, or otherwise, but somehow Switzer stole that glory.
But she had changed things, and in 1972 women were officially allowed to run with a number.
Bobbi Gibb, the woman who raced for herself, and raced for the right.
