Ethiopia’s Boston Marathon Winner Honors First Woman to Run the Race With Trophy
Atsede Baysa, the Ethiopian winner of the 2016 Boston Marathon, has given her trophy to Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to finish the prestigious annual marathon.
Baysa, 29, won the women’s division of the 120th edition of the Boston Marathon on Monday with a time of 2:29:19.
Baysa reportedly presented Gibb with the trophy on Tuesday morning at the post-Boston Marathon press conference.
A few days before the race, Baysa reportedly learned about Gibb and her trailblazing run in 1966 that broke the gender barrier at the Boston Marathon.
“She’s inspiring for us, being women and runners,” Baysa said. “Now we are running around the globe. Her story is very touching.”
Gibb became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon despite being refused a spot in the 1966 event. Gibb claims to have run to prove that women are capable of enduring the 26.2 mile race.
Gibb also competed in the 1967 and 1968 events but was never awarded a trophy because she ran before women were officially allowed to compete.
Gibb, who was reportedly moved to tears by Baysa gesture, said she would only keep the trophy for a year. She added that after that period she would return the trophy to Ethiopia.
The Boston Athletic Association officially recognized Gibb’s feat by making her the grand marshal of this year’s event.
Baysa and Lemi Berhanu Hayle, the Ethiopian winner of the elite men’s division race this year, were each awarded a cheque of $150,000 each.
Photo: Bryan Snyder/Reuters