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The marathon is the longest distance in the
athletics. The official distance for the Marathon in the Olympics is
42.195 kilometers or 26 miles 385 yards. The event is run as a road
race. Women athletes from all over the world have participated
enthusiastically in the marathon for women in Olympics.
Debut in Olympics
Marathon Women was introduced in the Olympics at the 1984 Los
Angeles Summer Games. Thereafter, the event has been the feature of
all summer Olympics.
Rules and Regulations
As for all athletics events, rules and regulations for marathon too
have been set by International Association of Athletics Federations
or IAAF. Basic rules set by the IAAF for the marathon are given as
under.
- Marathon athletes are not allowed to run on soft land. The
event has to be organized on metalled roads.
- For convenience of the athletes, the starting and finishing
points of the marathon should be properly marked.
- An athlete has to reach the finishing point for getting any
credit.
- Organizers have to well-mark the different stages of the
race.
- Any sprinter is bound to leave the race if directed by an
official medical staff.
- Refreshment stations have been specified for the athletes
where they can have refreshments. They are not allowed to take
refreshments in any other places.
- The athletes should be informed in advance about the distance
and route they have to run.
- A marathon athlete cannot leave the road without prior
permission of a judge. And if he comes out of the course, he has
to be under constant supervision of the judge so that he might
not take a short route for the finishing point.
Top Performers
Athletes who have performed will in the Marathon Olympics for Women
are Paula RadcliffeValentina Yegorova, Mizuki Noguchi, Naoko
Takahashi, Fatuma Roba, Deena Kastor, Rosa Mota, Joan Benoit,
Catherine Ndereba, Lidia Simon, Yuko Arimori, Lisa Martin, Grete
Waitz, and Joyce Chepchumba. |
