Inspiring List of Nominees Revealed For 261 Fearless Inc.’s Inaugural K.V.Switzer Awards

October 2, 2025

Named For Icon and Co-Founder Kathrine Switzer

261 Fearless Inc, the global nonprofit running organization which empowers women through running and education programs, announces the nominees in each of three categories for the inaugural K.V Switzer Awards which will be presented November 1, 2025 in New York City.

October 2, 2025 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – “The candidates for this award that have emerged are all people who have been personally impacted by physical activity, running in particular, and want to pass on that sense of freedom and joy and fearlessness to others,” said Kathrine Switzer, co-founder of 261 Fearless. “261 Fearless was founded to help women improve their lives through the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. Running can change the world in a very positive way.”

The awards carry forward the legacy of Switzer who broke barriers when she became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967 and will celebrate three extraordinary individuals who are transforming lives by empowering women through running in three separate categories.

The K.V. Switzer Pioneer Award presented by Team Milk’s Every Woman’s Marathon recognizes an individual who, despite social, cultural or personal obstacles, has blazed a trail for women in running – whether through personal commitment, structural change or high-profile advocacy. Each nominee has left a lasting legacy, shaping women’s running, athletics, and health for generations to come.

The nominees for the K.V. Switzer Pioneer Award presented by Team Milk’s Every Woman’s Marathon are:

• Ilse Dippman (Austria) – Creator of the Austrian Women’s Run which started 37 years ago and has grown into an annual event with over 30,000 runners from 70 countries participating this year, she is a pioneer in Europe promoting women’s running.
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) – Six-time Olympic medalist and founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation empowering generations to rise above challenges and pursue excellence.
• Dr. Stacy Sims, PhD (USA / New Zealand) – Prominent exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist known for her groundbreaking female-specific health training research creating positivity around being a woman in sport.
• Nina Kuscsik (USA) – The first woman to officially win the Boston Marathon and run the NYC Marathon, co-founder of the Mini 10k, and legislated along with others to establish the first ever Olympics women’s marathon. She was one of the pioneers of the women’s marathon movement and is nominated posthumously.
• Masoumeh (Mahsa) Torabi (Iran) – A pioneer for women’s running in Iran, she has worked with global charities to empower girls and women through running.

Presenting partner for the K.V. Switzer Pioneer Award Team Milk has championed female runners through a multi-year journey supporting women across major U.S. marathons. Starting in 2022, Team Milk built a community of over 30,000 women and launched Every Woman’s Marathon in 2024, a groundbreaking event designed by women for women. Born directly from listening to women runners’ needs and aspirations, this one-of-a-kind race debuted in Savannah, GA, and now brings its electric energy and unparalleled sense of community to Scottsdale, Arizona on November 16, 2025.

The K.V. Switzer Community Impact Award presented by Adidas recognizes the commitment of a person, group or initiative that goes beyond running and makes a lasting or positive change in the lives of women in their community through running initiatives, creating social value beyond running in terms of education, integration, mental health, safety or social participation.

The nominees for K.V. Switzer Community Impact Award presented by Adidas are:

• Molly Barker (USA) – Founder of Girls on the Run, an empowering program which has inspired millions of girls across North America to find strength, courage and joy in being themselves.
• Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks-Rocha (USA) – Co-founded Black Girls RUN! in 2009 tackling the growing obesity epidemic in the African American Community, the group growing to over 25,000 runners and improving the lives of thousands of women.
• Jessie Zapo (USA) – Ultramarathoner, performance running coach and community builder who helped launch the Adidas communities in the US and founded Girls Run NYC, an all women’s running collective created to power and uplift women.
• New York Road Runners‘ Mastercard New York Mini 10K (USA) – The first women’s only road race organized by nonprofit New York Road Runners in 1972, this race was a historic milestone in the global movement for women’s running. The 43rd running oft he race in 2025 was the largest in event history, drawing nearly 10,000 finishers.
• RUN Hong Kong – a Hong Kong based nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable refugees, particularly women, to rebuild resilience and nurture self reliance for a more hopeful future through structured sports programs in Hong Kong.

Presenting sponsor for the K.V. Switzer Community Impact Award Adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach / Germany, the company employs more than 62,000 people across the globe and generated sales of € 23.7 billion in 2024.

The K.V. Switzer Global Connector Award presented by Beyond Finance recognizes an individual who has brought women together and strengthened them across borders through networks, cooperation or intercultural exchange.

The nominees for K.V. Switzer Global Connector Award presented by Beyond Finance are:

• Stephanie Case (Canada) – International human rights lawyer, humanitarian and world-class ultramarathoner. Founder of Free to Run, she empowers women and girls in conflict zones through running and outdoor adventure to advance gender equality.
• Thom Glligan (USA) – Marathoner and founder of Marathon Tours & Travel, he pioneered running destination travel, bringing thousands of runners together across borders and creating safe welcoming opportunities for women to explore the world.
• Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) – Legendary long-distance runner and peace advocate. The first African woman to win the NYC Marathon, she broke multiple records and founded the Tegla Laroupe Peace Foundation and Peace Run to promote education, coexistence, and conflict resolution through sport.
• Esther Newman (UK) – Editor of Women’s Running and host of its podcast, she champions running as a path to physical and mental well-being and advocates for safe, inclusive spaces for women to stay active.
• Paul Sinton-Hewitt (UK) – Founder of parkrun, the global movement offering free, weekly 5K and 2K runs that welcomes people of all abilities, making outdoor activity fun, safe and accessible—especially for women.

Presenting sponsor for the K.V. Switzer Global Connector Award Beyond Finance, LLC is the nation’s largest debt consolidation company. In its commitment to providing clients with a personalized approach to move beyond debt, Beyond Finance provides simple and transparent solutions that help consumers lower their monthly payments, reduce the impact of interest, and reach a debt-free life sooner. Beyond Finance holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded with multiple recognitions for its commitment to clients: Organization of the Year The Business Intelligence Group’s Excellence in Customer Service Award, Gold Stevie Award for Outstanding Customer Service Department, Banking Tech Award-Financial Wellness Champion, and, 3 Consumer Affairs’ “Buyer’s Choice Awards.” Beyond Finance has offices in Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston.

The winners will be revealed at the historic New York Athletic Club on November 1st.

Images of all nominees: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15pMCjBmIg76sqrD9EJmeqxQoHtW1mkxj?usp=sharing

Extended bios of all nominees: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lxQjVRVtH7d3LMMM7NnITaIfzKqik5FS?usp=sharing

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About Kathrine Switzer:

Kathrine Switzer is an iconic athlete, sports and social advocate, author, and Emmy award winning television commentator. Her fearlessness when she ran the Boston Marathon in 1967 during a time women were not allowed to run was a pivotal step for women in sports and led to a lifetime of championing women’s running. In one of the most dramatic moments in sports history, the race director leapt from the press truck and tried to physically pull her off the course for being a woman. Switzer’s boyfriend at the time shoved away the official, allowing her to continue running and finish the race. The iconic photo of the incident along with Switzer’s bib number 261, inspired a movement for women in sports.

About 261 Fearless:

261 Fearless Inc. was co-founded by Kathrine Switzer and Edith Zuschmann in 2015 as a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and uniting women globally through running and education. The organization includes women of all backgrounds in 14 countries on five continents, with 18 clubs and 60 running groups serving over 1,000 active program participants per year.

261fearless.org

Media Contact:

Karyn Rodus
media@261fearless.org
Phone: 917-903-3092