Never Done Breaking Barriers

For many years, it was thought by some that the longest distance a woman could safely run was 1500 meters. An unsubstantiated assumption that unbelievably was a reality as recently as 40 years ago – until Joan Benoit and many others changed the landscape of sport forever.

Incredibly, into the early 1980s, though women had been running marathons for many years, they were prevented from running any further than three and three-quarter laps at the Games. Told they were too weak for longer track races, let alone 26.2 miles of road, their potential was restricted by misogyny.

But supported by Nike, a female two-time marathon world record holder founded a committee to lobby for women’s chance to go for gold at long distances. She was joined in leading this by good friend and training partner Joan Benoit, who – owing to the stages each was at in their career – would likely be the one to ultimately make history running the race when the time came.

Backed by Nike’s funding, advertising, connection of top-ranked runners and drafting and translation of correspondence, Benoit and the committee’s efforts paid off as the 3000m and marathon were added for women for 1984 in LA. However, many still held on to their outdated beliefs as the 50 competitors toed the start-line on August 5th.

Two hours, twenty-four minutes and fifty-two seconds later, Joan Benoit had ensured nobody would ever again question women’s ability to take on a race of any distance.

Her performance wasn’t just dominant for a woman, but any runner; her time was better than 13 of the previous 20 men’s winners. Attacking from as early as the third mile of the race despite the searing Southern California heat, Benoit finished around a minute and a half faster than the field, despite arthroscopic knee surgery three months before.

The impact of her race lasted far beyond that summer. Along with previous leaps forward in women’s marathon times, it opened opportunities for women athletes around the world – a direct response to anyone who said they couldn’t. Though the defiance of many women since has broken barriers, without Joan’s brave, bold run it is a very different journey.

Women are still excluded from competing in some events at the highest level based on ridiculous assumptions, or face unfair prejudices and double-standards in decisions about eligibility. While Joan’s ‘84 win ushered in a new wave of opportunities for women runners around the world, the fight is far from over.