In a show of progress and breaking with tradition, the Paris Olympics has given women the honor of closing out the Olympic track meet with the historic 26.2-mile marathon race. This decision highlights the remarkable strides made in gender equality over the last 40 years, as these Summer Games mark the first time that men and women have competed in equal numbers.

Organizers of the Paris Games have gone a step further to acknowledge the significance of this moment. The marathon route traces the path of the Women's March on Versailles, a pivotal event during the French Revolution when women marched to King Louis XVI to protest against the high cost of bread. This symbolic choice emphasizes how women, once denied the opportunity to compete in longer distance races, are now charting their own path through history.

Watching eagerly from the sidelines will be Joan Benoit Samuelson, the trailblazer who won the first Olympic marathon in 1984. Prior to that, women were restricted to races of 800 meters or less, with concerns raised about their ability to handle long distances and fears of potential infertility. Samuelson's victory shattered these misconceptions and paved the way for future generations of female marathon runners.

Reflecting on the progress, Samuelson shared, "All these years later, women are again tracing routes that changed the course of history, and in this case, certainly for the positive." Her brave accomplishment in 1984 cleared the path for women like her to run their own race in life, a sentiment she believes holds true to this day.

The significance of the women's marathon closing out the track meet amidst a male-dominated sports landscape cannot be understated. While athletes like Simone Biles, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Katie Ledecky have dominated headlines throughout the Olympics, the women's marathon will take center stage as the traditional centerpiece of the Games.

Hellen Obiri, a Kenyan standout and favorite in the race, acknowledges the immense audience that will be tuning in, stating, "It's a great opportunity for millions of people to watch you. That's on your mind. I want to work extra hard to make these people happy." Obiri, along with the other 91 women competing, will face a challenging course through the streets of Paris, filled with steep inclines reaching grades as daunting as 13.5%. The course has been hailed as one of the most difficult in Olympic history.

As the Paris Olympics 2024 celebrates the triumphs of female athletes while witnessing the closing of the track meet by the women's marathon, it serves as a reminder of how far gender equality in sports has come. With each step they take, the women runners continue to carve their own path, leaving an indelible mark on history and inspiring future generations.