Insight
From an outdated gender assumption, for the future of running.
In 1984, Joan Benoit Samuelson became the first woman to win a gold medal in an Olympic marathon. The impact of this run was a turning point for women in sports, but decades later, women are still being kept on the sidelines.
Born with spina bifida, 33-year-old Tatyana McFadden was told she could never compete. She’s now a 20-time Paralympian Games Champion and 24-time marathon winner, recently winning the 2021 Chicago Marathon.
In 2019, Caster Semenya was sidelined for her testosterone levels. She is a three-time 800-meter World Champion and continues to compete in global events.
Yulimar Rojas grew up in a large, humble family in Venezuela without training facilities. She won Olympic gold in the 2020 Games and currently holds the women’s triple jump world record.