The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) recently announced they will only recognize road race finish times from all-female competitions as world records, both moving forward and retroactively. Any past or future performances achieved in mixed fields will be referred to as a "world best".
Under this new ruling, Paula Radcliffe's marathon record of 2hr 15min 25sec, set in London in 2003, will be downgraded to a "world best", while her third-fastest time of 2hr 17min 42sec set at the same event in 2005 will become the world record.
This retroactive ruling distorts history. It is unfair to those who competed and abided by the rules that were in place at the time to achieve national and world record accomplishments.
In response to the reclassification, Nike launched #HistoryStands to demonstrate support for marathon-world record holder Paula Radcliffe and all women in sport.
You can change the rules, but you can’t change history.
#HistoryStands
