Ruth Chepng'etich’s Marathon Record: Why We Struggle to Accept Women’s Excellence

Ruth Chepng'etich’s 2024 marathon world record is a triumph not just for her, but for all women in sport. Yet, amid the celebration, a troubling trend has emerged: rather than praising her brilliance, some commentators are raising doubts. These voices claim that her performance was “too good to be true,” implying something suspicious rather than acknowledging that women athletes are closing in on men’s records.

Chepng'etich’s incredible marathon in Chicago, finishing in 2:09:56, places her feat within 7.7% of the men’s world record. This has stirred up reactions that reveal the persistent discomfort many feel when women approach or surpass benchmarks that we traditionally see as men’s. Rather than celebrating her athletic feat, critics are scrambling for reasons to explain away her brilliance. Guilty until proven innocent seems to be the prevailing narrative. Whether it's discussions about course conditions, pacing, or baseless speculation about performance-enhancing drugs, these critiques avoid the simplest explanation: she is just that good.

A Familiar Pattern: Doubts About Women’s Dominance

This is not a new phenomenon. Whenever women challenge or outperform men’s standards, the narrative quickly shifts from admiration to suspicion. We see this time and time again in all-too-common examples that reflect an ingrained belief that women have no place challenging men’s records, an idea rooted in both sexism and outdated views of women’s physicality.

What’s notable about Chepng'etich’s case is that the focus isn’t even on how much more she could achieve, but instead on how far she should be from men’s performances. It's as if she’s not meant to cross a certain line. When a woman comes close to a men’s world record, it threatens the foundations of sporting narratives that have long privileged men’s superiority.

Changing the Narrative

The pushback against Chepng'etich’s achievement speaks volumes about how women’s progress in sport is often met with resistance. The fact that her performance is being picked apart, down to variables like weather or pacers or drugs, underscores the unease surrounding women who defy expectations. In contrast, when men set records, there’s rarely such detailed scrutiny, and the assumption is often that they’re simply stronger or faster.

But Chepng'etich’s performance should make us question these long-held assumptions. Her success shows that women’s athletic potential is continually evolving, and that they can rival the greatest men athletes. Instead of interrogating her record, we should be celebrating the progress she represents and acknowledging that gender-based performance gaps are shrinking.

What the Reaction Tells Us About Gender in Sport

The real issue here isn't whether Chepng'etich’s record is legitimate (as it stands, it is), but rather why some people find it so hard to accept. Women's records are often seen as "lesser" or secondary to men's, a narrative that has persisted for decades. When a woman comes close to breaking these boundaries, instead of celebrating it, many critics rush to defend the status quo.

This speaks to a broader cultural issue about the way we view women athletes. Women in sport are often praised up to a point—but only when they stay within the boundaries society has set for them. When they start to challenge the notion that men are inherently superior, they are met with suspicion, or worse, accused of cheating.

Breaking the Bias

It's time to shift our perspective. Ruth Chepng'etich’s marathon record is an outstanding achievement and a sign of what women can do when given the opportunity. Instead of questioning her, we should be questioning the biases that make us uncomfortable with women excelling. Sport should be about pushing the limits of human ability, regardless of gender.

Chepng'etich isn’t a marvel because she’s a woman approaching a man’s record. She’s a marvel because she’s Ruth Chepng'etich: an athlete who has trained tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of her sport. We owe it to her—and all women athletes—to recognize their achievements for what they are: groundbreaking, inspiring, and absolutely legitimate.