Boston Marathon's First Woman Runner Honored with Statue

Bobbi Gibb's historic 1966 run paved the way for thousands of women runners today.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:39am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the Boston Marathon, with runners, spectators, and the Hopkinton starting line broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant color, capturing the dynamism and progress of the historic race.A cubist interpretation of the historic Boston Marathon captures the energy and movement of the iconic race, with Bobbi Gibb's pioneering spirit at the heart of the scene.Boston Today

Sixty years ago, 23-year-old Bobbi Gibb convinced her mother to drive her to the Hopkinton starting line of the Boston Marathon, where she became the first woman to complete the iconic 26.2-mile race. Gibb's trailblazing run in 1966 faced skepticism, as the race director at the time claimed women were 'not physiologically able' to run marathon distances. But Gibb persevered, finishing the race in just over 3 hours and 20 minutes. A new bronze statue honoring Gibb's achievement now stands near the Hopkinton starting line, commemorating her role in opening the Boston Marathon to women runners.

Why it matters

Gibb's historic run in 1966 paved the way for the thousands of women who now compete in the Boston Marathon each year, making up nearly half of the total field. Her determination to prove that women could run marathons successfully helped advance gender equality in the sport. The new statue in Hopkinton serves as a powerful symbol of Gibb's pioneering spirit and the progress that has been made for women in running.

The details

In 1966, Bobbi Gibb, then a 23-year-old pre-med student, convinced her mother to drive her to the Hopkinton starting line of the Boston Marathon, where she hid in the bushes before joining the all-male field of runners. Wearing her brother's Bermuda shorts and a blue hooded sweatshirt to blend in, Gibb endured blisters from wearing men's running shoes as she completed the 26.2-mile course in just over 3 hours and 20 minutes, becoming the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon. At the time, the race director had denied Gibb's application, claiming women were 'not physiologically able' to run marathon distances.

  • On April 19, 1966, Bobbi Gibb became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon.
  • In 1967 and 1968, Gibb also ran and finished the Boston Marathon.
  • In 1996, the 100th anniversary of the first Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. officially acknowledged Gibb as the first woman to finish the race in the pre-sanctioned era.
  • In 2021, Gibb unveiled a new bronze statue near the Hopkinton starting line, commemorating her historic 1966 run.
  • On Monday, April 17, 2026, the statue will be displayed for the first time to the thousands of runners descending on Hopkinton for the Boston Marathon.

The players

Bobbi Gibb

A 23-year-old pre-med student at the University of California, San Diego, who in 1966 became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon.

Will Cloney

The Boston Athletic Association's race director in 1966, who denied Gibb's application to run the Boston Marathon, claiming women were 'not physiologically able' to complete the 26.2-mile distance.

Kathrine Switzer

The first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor, in 1967.

Atsede Baysa

The 2016 Boston Marathon women's winner, who shared her first-place trophy with Gibb to honor her pioneering achievement.

Tim Kilduff

The president and founder of the 26.2 Foundation, the nonprofit that commissioned the statue of Gibb near the Hopkinton starting line.

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What they’re saying

“'By the time I reached the finish line, I was tiptoeing in excruciating pain with every step, but I knew that I had to finish because I was demonstrating that a woman could actually run 26.2 miles and run it pretty well.'”

— Bobbi Gibb

“'No way. You do you. You were the first. It stands not just for me but for all of the pioneers and all of the people who work for human rights.'”

— Joan Benoit Samuelson

“'The fact that Boston's first woman runner is also a great sculptor, made this project absolutely unique and appropriate.'”

— Tim Kilduff, President and Founder, 26.2 Foundation

“'I heard about her story. I wanted to know about her experience at Boston, and I wanted to meet her. I want to give her this trophy.'”

— Atsede Baysa, 2016 Boston Marathon Women's Winner

“'Mom, this is going to help to set women free — don't you see? If a woman can do this, it's not impossible.'”

— Bobbi Gibb

What’s next

The new bronze statue honoring Bobbi Gibb's historic 1966 Boston Marathon run will be unveiled and displayed for the first time to the thousands of runners descending on Hopkinton for this year's race on Monday, April 17, 2026.

The takeaway

Bobbi Gibb's trailblazing run in the 1966 Boston Marathon, when she became the first woman to complete the iconic 26.2-mile race, paved the way for the thousands of women who now compete in the event each year. Her determination to prove that women could successfully run marathons helped advance gender equality in the sport, and the new statue in Hopkinton serves as a powerful symbol of her pioneering spirit and the progress that has been made.