How the race they said women couldn't run took centre stage
Summary
The women's 800m race was removed from the Olympics for 32 years after 1928 due to false claims that women were too weak for the distance. It returned in 1960 and has since become a popular and competitive event, with athletes like Keely Hodgkinson and Audrey Werro drawing attention.Key Facts
- The women's 800m race was first held at the 1928 Olympics but was removed for 32 years because officials thought women were too frail.
- German runner Karoline Lina Radke won the first 800m Olympic gold for women in 1928.
- False reports claimed women collapsed after the 800m race, leading to its removal from Olympic events until 1960.
- Ann Brightwell won gold in the 800m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and set a world record.
- Women’s middle-distance running was less common and faced societal resistance for many years.
- Women athletes often had to choose between work and sports because there was little support for female competitive runners.
- The current women's 800m race features strong competitors like Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Switzerland’s Audrey Werro.
- Breaking time barriers, like running the 800m in under two minutes, remains an important goal for athletes.
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