Nurse who ran London marathon in scrubs awarded world record after backlash

Guinness World Records will recognize a nurse’s marathon world record attempt, after initially denying her results because she wore scrubs instead of a dress.

Jessica Anderson, a nurse with the U.K.’s National Health Service, will now hold the title of fastest female marathon runner wearing a nurse’s uniform after Guinness World Records acknowledged its stipulations were outdated.

“It has become quite clear to Guinness World Records that our guidelines for the fastest marathon wearing a nurse’s uniform were outdated, incorrect and reflected a stereotype we do not in any way wish to perpetuate,” said Guinness World Records (GWR) Vice President Samantha Fay, according to The Guardian. “We unreservedly apologize and accept full responsibility for the mishandling of Jessica Anderson’s application.”{mosads}

The ruling comes after the company faced swift backlash for its initial decision.

The decision prompted particularly fierce backlash online, with several nurses taking to social media to express solidarity with Anderson using the hashtag #WhatNursesWear.

Thank you @RMayNurseDir such a lovely photo. I’m blown away by the support this has received! #whatnurseswear

— Jessica Anderson (@Janderzzz) May 4, 2019

The ruling will make Anderson’s completion of the marathon in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 22 seconds the new record, breaking Sarah Dudgeon’s previous 2015 record of 3 hours, 8 minutes and 54 seconds, according to The Guardian.

Anderson, an acute admissions unit nurse at the Royal London Hospital, had been told that her attempt at the record was invalid because the rules defined a nurse’s uniform as comprising a white or blue dress, a nurse’s cap and a nurse’s apron.

Anderson ran in scrubs, which GWR said could be confused with requirements for a doctor’s uniform.

In addition to awarding Anderson the record, GWR will update its guidelines to reflect “clothes worn by nurses in the UK and around the world,” Fay said.