SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/run-first-womens-olympic-marathon

In what year did women first race the marathon at the Olympics?

1984, in Los Angeles. Joan Benoit won.

Start playing free

  1. 1984 ✔
  2. 1896
  3. 1960

Why: American Joan Benoit won the first Olympic women's marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games in 2:24:52. Before those Games, the longest Olympic race for women was 1,500 meters.

Huh, didn't know that: In 1896 a Greek woman named Melpomene was barred from the Olympic marathon, so she ran the course alone anyway.

The dad joke
Joan Benoit led so far ahead, the other runners needed a pen pal to keep in touch.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: 1984. American Joan Benoit won the first Olympic women's marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games in 2:24:52. Before those Games, the longest Olympic race for women was 1,500 meters.

  1. World Athletics: 40 years since Benoit's Olympic marathon win worldathletics.org/heritage/news/joan-benoit-olympic-marathon-1984-los-angeles
    It was 40 years ago, at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, that Joan Benoit became the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon champion.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Sports & FitnessIn Mayo Clinic's beginner 5K plan, what is the week one run/walk pattern?Sports & FitnessHow many miles is a 5K race?Sports & FitnessYou run 3 miles a week. Under the 10 percent rule, how much could you add next week?

That's stuff everyone should know.