Taking advantage of this 8M we bring you 4 of the most influential women in the history of sports to celebrate International Women's Day as it deserves.
Today is International Women's Day , a date that is celebrated around the world to, every March 8, claim the role of women in society and combat inequalities that many women around the world still face.
At Sportech Fitness we want to remember some of the most inspiring athletes in history to vindicate the role of women in sport and see how they changed the rules and direction of their sport, paving the way for new generations.
Kathrine Switzerland (athlete)
Kathrine Switzer is a marathon runner and women's rights activist who became famous for being the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon , in 1967. At the time, women were not allowed to run marathons, considering that the physical exertion required was too intense for his "frail constitution". However, Switzer defied these regulations and entered the race using only her initials , "KV Switzer", to hide her gender .
During the race, the organizer of the race, Jock Semple, tried to throw her out of the race, but Switzer managed to continue thanks to the support of her boyfriend and his team. The photo of Semple trying to rip off Switzer's race number became a symbol of the fight for women's rights in sport.
Kathrine Switzer has continued to run and has participated in more than 35 marathons, including the Boston Marathon, which she last ran in 2017 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her storied career. In addition to her athletic career, she has been an advocate for women's health and wellness , creating a non-profit organization called 261 Fearless, which helps women discover their inner strength through running.
Florence Griffith-Joyner (sprinter)
Florence Griffith-Joyner, also known as "Flo-Jo", was an American track and field athlete considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time . He was born on December 21, 1959 into a family of athletes.
Flo-Jo first came to national attention in the 1980s as a member of the US Olympic team. He won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and a gold medal in the 100 and 200 meters at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. His performance in the 100 meters helped him to establish a world record of 10.49 seconds , becoming one of the greatest achievements in Olympic history and which is still valid today.
Her legacy as a groundbreaking athlete and cultural icon continues to inspire women around the world.
Manon Rhéaume (Ice Hockey Player)
Manon Rheaume is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender who is notable for being the first woman to play in a National Hockey League (NHL) exhibition game. He was born on February 24, 1972 in Lac Beauport, Quebec, Canada.
Rheaume started playing hockey at a very young age and ended up becoming a goalie. She played for the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and later joined the Canadian women's national team, with which she won two silver and one gold medal at the Federation World Championships. International Ice Hockey (IIHF).
In 1992, Rheaume was invited to attend the Tampa Bay Lightning's training camp, where she impressed the coaching staff and was offered the opportunity to play in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. On September 23, 1992, she became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game , in which she made seven stops in one period of play.
Edurne Pasaban (Mountaineer)
On a national level, perhaps the most successful and revolutionary woman in her sport is Edurne, the first woman to crown fourteen eight thousand .
In 2001, Edurne Pasaban climbed an eight-thousander for the first time, Shishapangma (8,027 meters) in the Himalayas. From then on, she continued climbing mountains until in 2010 she achieved her goal, becoming the first woman to complete the ascent of the fourteen eight-thousanders.
In addition to being a great mountaineer, Edurne Pasaban has a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and has received numerous awards and recognitions, both national and international , for her work as an athlete and as an ambassador for the Spain brand.
At present, Edurne Pasaban is still linked to the world of the mountain, and is dedicated to giving talks and conferences about her experience as a mountaineer and about the values that can be extracted from the practice of sport and personal improvement.
This group of women has opened a path that all of society must continue in order to facilitate the practice of sport to anyone who wants to, regardless of their gender, race or position.