Gibb, Bobbi
Sculptor was first woman to complete the Boston Marathon.
Roberta Gibb, in her sculpture group of marathoners, captures the intensity of running and the exaltation of crossing the finish line. She knows these emotions first hand.
Bobbi Gibb's love of art and running began at a young age. She recalls pretending to be a horse and running as fast as she could. In her teens, Gibb studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University School of Special Studies. She began running with a member of Tufts' cross-country team and was later inspired to run the Boston Marathon, then open to only men. It was believed women were not physically able to run 26 miles.
In 1966, wearing a baggy sweatshirt and boys' shoes, Gibb jumped out of the bushes near the starting line. As the race continued, Gibb heard other runners asking if she were a woman. One told her the fellow runners would protect her if the organizers tried to eject her from the race. In response Gibb took off her sweatshirt and finished the race. Despite finishing the race, she was banned from attending the post-race dinner. The Boston Marathon began allowing women to compete officially in 1972.
Gibb turned to law as a profession, but in recent years she spends an increasing amount of time sculpting in her California studio.
Roberta Gibb, in her sculpture group of marathoners, captures the intensity of running and the exaltation of crossing the finish line. She knows these emotions first hand.
Bobbi Gibb's love of art and running began at a young age. She recalls pretending to be a horse and running as fast as she could. In her teens, Gibb studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University School of Special Studies. She began running with a member of Tufts' cross-country team and was later inspired to run the Boston Marathon, then open to only men. It was believed women were not physically able to run 26 miles.
In 1966, wearing a baggy sweatshirt and boys' shoes, Gibb jumped out of the bushes near the starting line. As the race continued, Gibb heard other runners asking if she were a woman. One told her the fellow runners would protect her if the organizers tried to eject her from the race. In response Gibb took off her sweatshirt and finished the race. Despite finishing the race, she was banned from attending the post-race dinner. The Boston Marathon began allowing women to compete officially in 1972.
Gibb turned to law as a profession, but in recent years she spends an increasing amount of time sculpting in her California studio.
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