National Girls and Women in Sports Day

In 1987, Ronald Reagan, the former American President, declared February 7th to be the day set aside to acknowledge the important role women play in sports.

Recognized by schools, colleges, universities and other organizations promoting sports for girls and women, National Girls and Women in Sports Day honours the influence sports and athletics have on women’s lives. This includes living a healthy and active lifestyle, building self-confidence, helping others learn how to work on a team and offering opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Since its origins, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has evolved to recognize all female athletes, whether professional, amateur or simply aspiring. In addition, the day is meant to celebrate the progress made when Title IX was passed in 1972, providing equal access to sports for girls in the United States.

#261 became synonymous with female empowerment because it was the number Kathrin Switzer wore when she entered the Boston Marathon in 1967. It was an all-male event then, so when Kathrin entered her name on the form and wrote K. Switzer, the organizers had no idea she was female.  Halfway into the marathon, she was jumped by the race organizer, who tried to pull her out. Luckily, her quarterback boyfriend, who was running with her, pushed the organizer out of the way so Kathrin could continue her race. This was all documented on film, as the ‘incident’ occurred in front of the media. Kathrin Switzer is a true heroine. Thank you for your strength and courage.

Thank you to Katharine Switzer, the first woman to enter the Boston Marathon in 1967. See her story below.

Post image developed using AI generative image