{
  "id": 8186763,
  "title": "How the race they said women couldn't run took centre stage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/how-the-race-they-said-women-couldnt-run-took-centre-stage",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T06:02:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/clyk12vrv21o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For 32 years, women's 800m was absent from the Olympics due to claims that competitors were too frail. The event was reintroduced at the 1960 Rome Olympics, and Ann Brightwell became the first British woman to win Olympic gold in the 800m in 1964, setting a world record. Brightwell's achievement sparked controversy, as men accused women of collapsing during the race, but these claims were later proven false. Brightwell's time stood as the record for nearly three years before Judy Pollock broke it in 1967. In 1979, Hildegard Falck from Germany became the first woman to break the two-minute barrier, and in 1971, Britain's Christina Boxer-Cahill became the first British woman to do so. The women's 800m world record has been broken six times between 1971 and 1983, with Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova holding the record since 1974. However, recent controversy has surrounded Kratochvilova's record due to allegations of doping during the Eastern Bloc era.",
  "summary": "After making its debut at the 1928 Olympics, the women's 800m was cut from the programme. Now, it's often billed as the must-see event of major athletics championships. So, how did we get here?",
  "key_points": [
    "Women's 800m reintroduced in 1960 Rome Olympics",
    "Ann Brightwell first British woman to win gold in 1964",
    "Jarmila Kratochvilova holds women's 800m world record since 1974"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The reintroduction of women's 800m at the Olympics marked a shift in perception of women's athletic capabilities, challenging earlier claims that they were too frail for the event.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "How the race they said women couldn't run took centre stage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/how-the-race-they-said-women-couldnt-run-took-centre-stage-8187145",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:06:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}