Latest news with #pioneer
Al Arabiya
17-06-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Nina Kuscsik, Pioneer in Long-Distance Running and First Woman to Win the Boston Marathon, Has Died
Nina Kuscsik, who campaigned for women's inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year that they were officially allowed to enter the race, has died. She was 86. An obituary for the A.L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, New York, said Kuscsik died June 8 of respiratory failure after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. 'Nina was more than a pioneer, determined women's running advocate, and celebrated icon within the sport. To us, she was a friend who will always be remembered for her kindness, joyful laugh, and smile,' the Boston Athletic Association said on Instagram. 'Nina held the distinct honor of winning the 1972 Boston Marathon and recognized the platform that came with that triumphant moment, inspiring thousands of women to reach their own goals and finish lines in the decades since. The BAA extends heartfelt condolences to Nina's family, friends, and all in the running community who were touched by her grace.' According to the obituary, Kuscsik graduated from high school at 16, studied nursing for two years, and received her license at 18 after petitioning to change a New York law that required nurses to be 21. She won state championships in speed skating, roller skating, and cycling – all in the same year – before turning to running when her bicycle broke. She ran the Boston Marathon four times from 1968–71 – before women were officially welcomed, a period retroactively recognized as the Pioneer Era – and then won the first official women's race in 1972. She was also the first woman to enter the New York race in 1970 and was one of the Six Who Sat – six women who refused to start the '72 New York City Marathon for 10 minutes to protest an Amateur Athletic Union rule that the women's race had to be separate from the men's. She won that year and the next year as well. She later served on AAU and USA Track and Field committees drafting rules for women's running. Kathrine Switzer, who entered the 1971 Boston Marathon using her initials and became the first woman to officially compete, called Kuscsik 'one of our greatest leaders.' 'Nina was not only a champion runner but was instrumental in the official acceptance of women in distance running because she did years of tough work of changing rules, regulations, and submitting medical evidence to prove women's capability,' said Switzer, who started alongside Kuscsik and six other women who met the qualifying time for the 1972 Boston race. 'Eight of us registered, eight of us showed up, and all eight of us finished,' she said. 'It was a stunning moment – and a blistering hot day – but appropriately enough, Nina won.' In addition to the more than 80 marathons she ran over her lifetime, Kuscsik set the American record for the 50-mile run in 1977 and won the Empire State Building Run-Up three straight years from 1979–81. She was inducted into the Long Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nina Kuscsik, pioneer in long-distance running and first woman to win the Boston Marathon, has died
FILE - Nina Kuscsik of Huntington, N.Y., stands atop the Empire State Building in midtown New York City Thursday, Feb. 15, 1979, after becoming the first woman to complete the second Empire State Run-up. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler,File) FILE - Olavi Suomalainen of Finland, winner of the men's division of the Boston A.A. Marathon April 17, 1972, kisses Nina Kuscsik of Long Island, N.Y., winner of the women's division, at the trophy presentation April 18, 1972. (AP Photo/File) FILE - Nina Kuscsik of Huntington, N.Y., stands atop the Empire State Building in midtown New York City Thursday, Feb. 15, 1979, after becoming the first woman to complete the second Empire State Run-up. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler,File) FILE - Olavi Suomalainen of Finland, winner of the men's division of the Boston A.A. Marathon April 17, 1972, kisses Nina Kuscsik of Long Island, N.Y., winner of the women's division, at the trophy presentation April 18, 1972. (AP Photo/File) BOSTON (AP) — Nina Kuscsik, who campaigned for women's inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year that they were officially allowed to enter into the race, has died. She was 86. An obituary for the A.L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, New York, said Kuscsik died June 8 of respiratory failure after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Advertisement 'Nina was more than a pioneer, determined women's running advocate, and celebrated icon within the sport. To us, she was a friend who will always be remembered for her kindness, joyful laugh and smile,' the Boston Athletic Association said on Instagram. 'Nina held the distinct honor of winning the 1972 Boston Marathon, and recognized the platform that came with that triumphant moment, inspiring thousands of women to reach their own goals and finish lines in the decades since. The BAA extends heartfelt condolences to Nina's family, friends, and all in the running community who were touched by her grace.' According to the obituary, Kuscsik graduated from high school at 16, studied nursing for two years and received her license at 18 after petitioning to change a New York law that required nurses to be 21. She won state championships in speed skating, roller skating and cycling – all in the same year -- before turning to running when her bicycle broke. She ran the Boston Marathon four times from 1968-71 — before women were officially welcomed, a period retroactively recognized as the Pioneer Era — and then won the first official women's race in 1972. Advertisement She was also the first woman to enter the New York race, in 1970, and was one of the 'Six who Sat' – six women who refused to start the '72 New York City Marathon for 10 minutes to protest an Amateur Athletic Union rule that the women's race had to be separate from the men's. She won that year and the next year as well. She later served on AAU and USA Track and Field committees drafting rules for women's running. Kathrine Switzer, who entered the 1971 Boston Marathon using her initials and became the first woman to official compete, called Kuscsik 'one of our greatest leaders.' 'Nina was not only a champion runner, but was instrumental in the official acceptance of women and distance running because she did years of tough work of changing rules, regulations and submitting medical evidence to prove women's capability," said Switzer, who started alongside Kuscsik and six other women who met the qualifying time for the the 1972 Boston race. 'Eight of us registered, eight of us showed up, and all eight of us finished,' she said. 'It was a stunning moment — and a blistering hot day — but appropriately enough, Nina won.' Advertisement In addition to the more than 80 marathons she ran over her lifetime, Kuscsik set the American record for the 50-mile run in 1977 and won the Empire State Building Run-Up three straight years from 1979–81. She was inducted into the Long Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Nina Kuscsik, pioneer in long-distance running and first woman to win the Boston Marathon, has died
BOSTON (AP) — Nina Kuscsik, who campaigned for women's inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year that they were officially allowed to enter into the race, has died. She was 86. An obituary for the A.L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, New York, said Kuscsik died June 8 of respiratory failure after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. 'Nina was more than a pioneer, determined women's running advocate, and celebrated icon within the sport. To us, she was a friend who will always be remembered for her kindness, joyful laugh and smile,' the Boston Athletic Association said on Instagram. 'Nina held the distinct honor of winning the 1972 Boston Marathon, and recognized the platform that came with that triumphant moment, inspiring thousands of women to reach their own goals and finish lines in the decades since. The BAA extends heartfelt condolences to Nina's family, friends, and all in the running community who were touched by her grace.' According to the obituary, Kuscsik graduated from high school at 16, studied nursing for two years and received her license at 18 after petitioning to change a New York law that required nurses to be 21. She won state championships in speed skating, roller skating and cycling – all in the same year -- before turning to running when her bicycle broke. She ran the Boston Marathon four times from 1968-71 — before women were officially welcomed, a period retroactively recognized as the Pioneer Era — and then won the first official women's race in 1972. She was also the first woman to enter the New York race, in 1970, and was one of the 'Six who Sat' – six women who refused to start the '72 New York City Marathon for 10 minutes to protest an Amateur Athletic Union rule that the women's race had to be separate from the men's. She won that year and the next year as well. She later served on AAU and USA Track and Field committees drafting rules for women's running. Kathrine Switzer, who entered the 1971 Boston Marathon using her initials and became the first woman to official compete, called Kuscsik 'one of our greatest leaders.' 'Nina was not only a champion runner, but was instrumental in the official acceptance of women and distance running because she did years of tough work of changing rules, regulations and submitting medical evidence to prove women's capability,' said Switzer, who started alongside Kuscsik and six other women who met the qualifying time for the the 1972 Boston race. 'Eight of us registered, eight of us showed up, and all eight of us finished,' she said. 'It was a stunning moment — and a blistering hot day — but appropriately enough, Nina won.' In addition to the more than 80 marathons she ran over her lifetime, Kuscsik set the American record for the 50-mile run in 1977 and won the Empire State Building Run-Up three straight years from 1979–81. She was inducted into the Long Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999. ___ AP sports:
Malay Mail
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Rasammah Bhupalan, trailblazer for women and education in Malaysia, dies at 98
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — Education pioneer and women's right advocate Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan has passed away at 98, with a wake to be held tomorrow at her Kuala Lumpur home. Her funeral will be held on Thursday at Wesley Methodist Church, Kuala Lumpur, followed by a cremation ceremony at Nirvana Crematorium, Section 21, Shah Alam. A funeral notice issued by the family said that wake and funeral services will be streamed live via Zoom. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Hospis Malaysia or the YWCA Vocational Training Opportunity Centre — which she founded. At just 16, Rasammah enlisted in the women's wing of the Indian National Army to fight against British rule and was stationed in then Burma before returning to Malaya in 1945 due to malaria. After earning her degree from the University of Malaya in Singapore in June 1953, Rasammah began her teaching journey at Methodist Girls' School in Penang. She also founded the Women Teachers' Union in 1960 and later served as principal of Methodist Girls' School in Kuala Lumpur. She then received the Tokoh Guru award in 1986. She was also a co-founder of the National Council of Women's Organisations. Speaking to Malay Mail, renowned cultural preservationist and former student Eddin Khoo described Rasammah as a guiding force and a figure who truly embodied the spirit of a generation crucial to Malaysia's development. Reflecting on his time as a student at Methodist High School (now Methodist College), Eddin said Rasammah was not just an educator, but a pioneering woman who played an integral part in shaping Malaysia's history. He said that Rasammah's influence was not confined to the classroom as she also became active in politics during the 1998 Reformasi movement, co-founding Parti Keadilan Nasional — which would later merge with Parti Rakyat Malaysia to become PKR. 'I think the most important role she played was that of an educator. Through education, she became central to the lives of many individuals who later went on to contribute significantly to the nation. 'She became headmistress of some of the most respected schools in the country ... She truly lived at the heart of the nation. More importantly, she lived in the hearts of all her students,' he said.
