When Joan Benoit Samuelson entered the final 400 meters of the 1984 Olympic marathon, her focus wasn’t just on finishing—it was on finishing strong. Her victory in Los Angeles marked a pivotal moment for women in sports. For years, women had been excluded from longer races like the marathon in the Olympics, with the 1,500 meters being the longest event for females. Long-held stereotypes about femininity and the perceived limitations of the female body kept women from competing in these events. Samuelson’s performance, however, proved these outdated beliefs wrong.
Samuelson’s successful finish was a game-changer for women’s athletics. Had she struggled or collapsed after crossing the line, it might have further delayed women’s access to long-distance events in the Olympics. Fortunately, she crossed the finish line smiling, forever changing the landscape of women’s sports. Her victory was a milestone that led to the inclusion of the women’s marathon and greater participation of women in Olympic events.
Before 1984, the International Olympic Committee had resisted adding long-distance races for women, citing flawed studies about women’s physical capabilities. Women had already demonstrated their endurance, but Samuelson’s victory proved that they could excel in marathon events. Though Samuelson is often seen as a pioneer, she was aware that she was following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Kathrine Switzer, Bobbi Gibb, and Grete Waitz. Samuelson, however, became the first woman to win an Olympic marathon, showing the world that women could compete at the highest level.
Her win in Los Angeles, broadcast worldwide, changed public perceptions of women in sports. It was a turning point that inspired millions and showed that women could achieve greatness in endurance events. Switzer, who made history in 1967 as the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, noted that Samuelson’s win proved that women could do anything.
Since then, female athletes have seen exponential growth in opportunities, with the number of women’s events in the Olympics increasing. Women’s participation in the 2024 Paris Games reached gender parity, and the women’s marathon has become a prominent event. Samuelson’s 1984 Olympic victory didn’t just break records—it helped ignite a new era for women in athletics, proving that women are capable of achieving greatness both on and off the track.