Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb, the trailblazer of the Boston Marathon

The 1966 Boston Marathon

On April 19, 1966, at the age of 23, Roberta Louise "Bobbi" Gibb made history by secretly running the Boston Marathon, becoming the first woman to run this iconic race. At the time, women were banned from marathon competitions, deemed unable to endure such a distance. After her registration was denied, she decided to participate without a bib 🎽, hiding in a bush 🌳 before joining the race. She completed the 42.195 km (26.2 miles) of the Boston Marathon in just 3 hours, 21 minutes, and 17 seconds to the cheers of spectators and some supportive male runners. Her performance placed her in the top third of all finishers 😉.

Kathrine Switzer and the 1967 Boston Marathon

Bobbi Gibb returned in 1967 and 1968 to run the Boston Marathon again, still unofficially. She finished as the first female each time, though these victories were not officially recognized until 1996, during the race's centennial celebration. However, 1967 also marked another significant event in the history of the Marathon. While Bobbi Gibb ran in secret, another woman, Kathrine Switzer, became the first to officially register for the Boston Marathon by entering under the initials “K.V. Switzer.” During the race, she was infamously confronted by an official attempting to remove her, a moment that became iconic 📷.

In 2016, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking run, Roberta Louise "Bobbi" Gibb was named the honorary starter for the Boston Marathon. She was also honored by the Massachusetts Senate for her contributions to gender equality in sports. Today, Bobbi Gibb is celebrated as a trailblazer in women's sports. Her courage and determination not only paved the way for women's inclusion in marathons but also inspired generations of women to chase their dreams, no matter the obstacles.