As the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer broke the gender barrier and paved the way for women in running.

In 1967, Switzer attended Syracuse University where she trained unofficially with the men’s track team, because there was no women’s team.

Kathrine had always gained a sense of empowerment from running, but it wasn't until her coach convinced her to sign up for the marathon that her rise to fame started.

On the day of, things went relatively smoothly until mile four, when the race official attempted to tackle and physically remove Kathrine, who ran under a gender-neutral pseudonym K.V Switzer.

Shielded by her boyfriend, Switzer finished the marathon and became the girl who started it all.

Women being allowed to participate in a marathon was the physical equivalent of giving women the right to vote.