Jasmin Paris, a 40-year-old mother of two from Great Britain, made history after becoming the first woman ever to complete all five loops of the Barkley Marathons within the stringent 60-hour time limit.
Paris completed the race in 59:58:21, joining the exclusive club of Barkley Marathon finishers with just over a minute and a half to spare.
Prior to her triumph at Frozen Head State Park, Paris wasnโt a household name in the ultrarunning world. You could see her in the grocery store and wouldnโt think twice that you were walking by one of the most talented ultrarunners in the world.
Quiet, unassuming, and modest, Paris was born in Hadfield, a small town nestled on the edge of the Dark Peak in England. She also spent parts of her childhood in the hills of ล umava National Park in Czechia since sheโs also half Czech.
Currently residing just south of Edinburgh with her husband Konrad and their two young children, Paris balances her ultrarunning pursuits with her profession as a small animal vet specializing in Internal Medicine at the University of Edinburgh’s teaching hospital.
First run in 1989, the 100-mile event in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park is notorious for its rugged terrain, and finishing is unlikely. Paris’s feat, joining an elite group of only twenty finishers, marks a significant milestone not only for herself but for the sport of ultrarunning and women athletes worldwide.
What is This Petition About?
Stephen Cousins’s petition to include Paris on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year underscores the importance of recognizing her remarkable accomplishment and how it has changed the sport for women.ย
With nearly 15,000 signatures and counting, the petition highlights the widespread recognition for acknowledging Paris’s historic achievement and its broader significance.
Cousinsโs petition states that omitting Paris from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist would not only overlook a groundbreaking achievement but also miss an opportunity to celebrate diversity and resilience in sports. By recognizing Paris, the BBC has the chance to amplify her story and inspire individuals worldwide.
Read The Full Petition Below:
Ultra running is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. More people than ever are taking on distances longer than the traditional 26.2 mile marathon. In March 2024 we saw an unprecedented achievement. Jasmin Paris became the first woman in history to complete the Barkley Marathons – arguably the world’s toughest footrace. Since its inception as a 100-mile event back in 1989, only 20 people have managed to complete all 5 loops of the course. Jasmin Paris from the UK is now part of that elite group. This is a monumental feat. It is not just a personal accomplishment for Jasmin but for ultrarunning, for women, for Britain and for sport as a whole.
Research indicates that as distances increase, performance gaps between genders decrease significantly; women can compete on nearly equal footing with men. There is an increasing drive to encourage more women to stand on the start line of these ultra distance events and the achievement of Jasmin at the Barkley Marathons can only serve to inspire women to take on challenges they never believed possible, and to achieve things beyond their wildest dreams.
Jasmin’s omission from BBC Sports Personality of The Year shortlist would be a missed opportunity to recognise her extraordinary achievement and to encourage the participation and success of women in future ultra distance events.
We urge BBC to consider Jasmin Paris for their Sports Personality of The Year shortlist not only to honour her incredible feat but also to inspire more women globally by showcasing that they too can conquer such daunting challenges.
Please sign this petition if you believe that Jasmin Paris deserves recognition from BBC for her historic achievement.
Click here to view the petition.
