Katherine Switzer - athletespeakers
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Katherine Switzer Speaker & Booking Information

Marathon Runner; Motivational Speaker
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Katherine Switzer Biography


Best Known For:

  • Being the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a registered competitor in 1967, challenging gender barriers in sports.
  • Her memoir, "Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's Sports.", which details her experiences as a pioneering woman in long-distance running.
  • The iconic 1967 Boston Marathon incident where race official Jock Semple attempted to physically remove her from the race, marking a pivotal moment in women's athletics.

Best Booked For:

  • Women's rights and gender equality conferences, where her story inspires continued advocacy for equality in sports and beyond.
  • Sports history and marathon event forums, offering insights into the evolution of women's participation in long-distance running.
  • Leadership and empowerment seminars, sharing her journey of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Speaker Strengths:

  • Trailblazing spirit, demonstrating courage and resilience by breaking gender barriers in sports.
  • Engaging storytelling, capturing the tension and triumph of her historic Boston Marathon run.
  • Advocacy for equality, using her platform to promote gender equality in sports and other arenas.

Background Info:

Katherine Switzer's historic run in the 1967 Boston Marathon not only challenged the status quo but also sparked a movement towards gender equality in athletics. Her defiance in the face of physical assault by race official Jock Semple became a symbol of women's resilience and determination. Switzer's efforts, along with the support of her trainer Arnie Briggs and boyfriend Thomas Miller, who defended her during the race, highlighted the need for change in the sporting world.

This event led to the eventual ban of women competing in races against men by the AAU, a decision that sparked controversy and further motivated the push for equal participation rights. It wasn't until 1972, five years after Switzer's historic run, that the Boston Marathon officially opened its doors to female competitors, marking a significant milestone in women's sports.

Katherine Switzer's legacy extends beyond her athletic achievements; she is a symbol of perseverance, empowerment, and the fight for gender equality. Her speaking engagements not only recount her personal experiences but also inspire others to challenge and overcome barriers in their own lives.

Book Katherine Switzer for your Next Event


Disclaimer: AthleteSpeakers assists companies seeking to hire talent like Katherine Switzer for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, appearances, product endorsements, and business sanctions. Our speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Katherine Switzer. Our booking agency can help with finding an athlete or sports celebrity that aligns with your upcoming events date, location, and budget. When an organization request booking details for a celebrity like Katherine Switzer, we work closely with the client to make sure the proposed dates does not interfere with the requested athletes schedule. We then confirm the sports celebrity fee based on the details of the request. The fees listed on the speaker profile are rough estimates based on the previous market rate for the talent. Our team then works with Katherine Switzer's agent, manager or assistant on the booking request. For parties interested in hiring Katherine Switzer, we recommend filling out the booking request form so our booking agents can help with making your next event a success.

Videos of Katherine Switzer Speaking


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Contact Athlete Speakers today at 800-916-6008 to book Katherine Switzer for a virtual event, virtual meeting, virtual appearance, virtual keynote speaking engagement, webinar, video conference or Zoom meeting. The booking agents at Athlete Speakers work to get you the best price for your desired sports personality.


Athlete Speakers is a leader when it comes to booking virtual events in the sports world. Since 1999, we have built close relationships with top athletes, agents, publicists and managers. We assist all types of companies as well as event planners with booking athletes like Katherine Switzer for these virtual engagements. Companies continue to turn to Athlete Speakers to get Katherine Switzer’s latest virtual speaking fee, appearance cost and schedule availability.

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