Main content

New York Marathon women's protest

How six women runners staged a sit-down demonstration to demand equality for female athletes in 1972.

In October 1972, six women runners staged a sit-down protest at the start of the New York Marathon demanding the right to take part in the same race as male athletes. The protest got front-page press attention and is regarded as a milestone in the long-battle for equality by female distance runners in America. Adrian Moorhead talks to protest organizer Nina Kuscsick.

(Photo: The 1972 women's protest. Credit: Patrick A. Burns/New York Times)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Nov 2019 04:50GMT
BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

More episodes

Previous

Chester Williams - South Africa's black rugby hero

Next

The death of Robert Enke

See all episodes from Sporting Witness

Broadcasts

  • Thu 31 Oct 2019 09:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Fri 1 Nov 2019 00:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Mon 4 Nov 2019 03:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Mon 4 Nov 2019 04:50GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast

  • Sporting Witness

    Personal stories of amazing moments from sporting history told by people who were there