The Boston Athletic Association officially retired bib number 261, permanently honoring Switzer's pioneering 1967 run as the first registered woman entrant.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer's historic 1967 run, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) made the decision to officially retire bib number 261 from future competition, ensuring that no other runner would ever be assigned that number in the race's history.
This retirement was a rare and significant honor, placing Switzer's bib alongside other symbolically retired numbers in major sporting events. The number 261 has since transcended its original function, becoming a globally recognized symbol of women's empowerment through sport, prominently featured in the branding of Switzer's nonprofit organization, 261 Fearless.
The decision by the B.A.A. reflected a broader institutional reckoning with the marathon's history of gender exclusion and represented a formal, permanent acknowledgment of Switzer's role in changing the race — and the sport — forever. It stood in stark contrast to the events of 1967, when officials had tried to physically remove her from the course.
The retirement ceremony, conducted amid the 2017 race weekend, was covered extensively by international press and was seen as both a celebration of how far women's sports had come and a reminder of the barriers that once existed. It cemented Switzer's number as an enduring symbol within marathon history.