Posted: Feb 03, 2021
February 3rd is National Girls and Women In Sports Day. We spoke to our student-athletes and coaches to get their perspective on being a female in athletics. Here are just a few of their responses.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
To be a woman in sports is showing other women that they can take up space. To be a woman is sports is challenging the status quo that male sports are the default.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
Coach Carter not only showed me how to use my voice on and off the pool deck, but she also gave me numerous opportunities to help me practice, fine-tune and utilize my leadership skills.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means constantly having to prove that we are worthy of the success we achieve. It means that we fight hard to achieve equity. It means that we are extremely incredible.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
Growing up I looked up to Julie Foudy as she was a pioneer for women's soccer within the United States. She was an important role model that embodied female strength.
What does being a woman in sports mean to you?
As a female leader in sports, it is my role and responsibility to continue to encourage my female student-athletes to be involved in sports not only as collegiate athletes but for the rest of their lives. Simply put, the sports world needs more women. Sport is an incredible way to teach young girls and female athletes about leadership, commitment, accountability, and resiliency. In order to grow women in sports, it is important that we continue to promote sports to young girls and show them what powerful female athletes can achieve.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
It means being accepted for my skills, strength, and effort--not being treated differently because I'm a woman in what remains mostly a man's domain. As a sabre fencer, I realize that women's fencing is still relatively new in the sports world. Women's fencing didn't become an Olympic event until 1924, and a collegiate sport until 1982. Since then, the number of women pursuing fencing for recreation, college scholarships, and to represent the United States in international competition has grown. Being a woman in sports means I get to showcase my skills and talent in a still relatively male-dominated sport. Brandeis University Head Coach Jennie Salmon was one of the first women to compete in NCAAs and earn All-American status. She opened doors in collegiate fencing for women like me. As I work to make her proud, I also hope to hold the door open for other girls and women who aspire to fence at any level.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
My role model in fencing has always been Mariel Zagunis. She is one of the most decorated fencers in U.S. Fencing history: multiple national championships, world cup top-4 finishes, 2x Olympic individual gold medalist, and bronze world medalist. I look up to her because she's a fantastic athlete and an incredibly hard worker. I remember first watching highlight reels of her competing in the 2008 Olympics at Beijing, China, beating out her teammates Becca Ward and Sada Jacobson in the semifinals and gold medal match. I wanted to be her so badly. Everything about her fencing was flawless, her execution, her bladework, her footwork. Watching her compete has motivated me to do my best.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports has always been something that is part of my identity, and something I take great pride in. I have been swimming competitively since I was 7, and without swimming, I would not be who I am today. Rigorous training with multiple practices a day made it so I developed a work ethic that I carry with me in all aspects of my life. Swimming makes me driven and gives me confidence. In a society where women are often encouraged to be small, swimming makes me feel like I deserve the space I take up in a room and more. For me, being a woman in sports is about building up other women in sports. Swimming has allowed me to form some of the closest friendships I have ever made, friendships where we celebrate each other's successes without feeling like it takes away from our own. We support each other and are truly rooting for each other. I am also incredibly lucky to be coached by an all-women coaching staff (Coach Nicole and Coach Lianne). These women encourage all of us to stand up for what we believe is right and to be strong. They make sure we know it is alright to be "intense" or "ambitious," as women are often mocked for having these traits. I have been called "intense" by many people in a negative sense, but swimming, my teammates, and my coaches have shown me that I should embrace this word. I AM intense, and proud to be it. I work hard, I am driven, I am competitive, and I am not afraid to say what I want to say or be who I am. I am so thankful that swimming and all that entails has shown me that women have every right to be as "intense" as they want to be or are.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
A woman athlete that has always inspired me is Aly Raisman. One reason is for the obvious; she is an incredibly talented gymnast and Olympic gold medalist who has a work ethic that I admire greatly. But Raisman inspires me even more for what she has done outside of her sport. Raisman bravely testified in court against an Olympic doctor who sexually abused her and many women athletes, looking him right in the eye and saying "the women you abused are now a force, and you are nothing." Raisman is an abuse survivor and had the courage to speak out about this abuse to the entire world. She was forced to relive her pain to bring her abuser (and the abuser of many others) to justice. At such a young age, she empowers so many other women. Despite the fact that she is still working through her own pain and trauma, she is a voice for many women who face abuse and makes sure they know they are not alone. She shows women that we are a force to be reckoned with. Raisman also encourages body positivity amongst young girls and women. She works with many foundations and charities that emphasize that all bodies are beautiful and also aim to help abuse victims. Aly Raisman truly embodies what it means to be a woman in sports as she is a fierce competitor while simultaneously building up other women in every sense.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
To be a woman in sports is to be someone who recognizes the intersectionality of gender and athletics, but knows that their abilities, skillset, and determination has no bounds. But even more than that, I think that as female athletes, we are given a unique platform to set an example for others, raise awareness for issues that we care about, and use our voices to demonstrate that we are proud of our identities
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
More recently, I have looked up to Becky Hammon, the first woman to coach in the NBA. Outside of the context of the sport of basketball itself, Hammon has entered a male-dominated workplace and has both earned and demanded respect from her peers and players alike.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
I believe being a woman in sports means you are apart of a legacy that is much bigger than yourself, it means you live in the future where you are given a platform to inspire those who aspire to be just like you and you hope they grow to be twice as successful as you get to be. I believe that being a woman in sports means you get to live among the generations of resilient and strong-willed women who came before you and paved the way for you to play the sport you love on a platform you have always deserved but might not have been given had they not stood up to injustice. To me, being a woman in sports means you not only have the privilege but also the responsibility to assume the legacy that has been passed down to you and you must extend that legacy by inspiring others through a demonstration of fearlessness, strength, and passion in what you do and what you love regardless of those who attempt to take away your spotlight.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
Serena Williams will always be such a role model to me not only because she is a relentless competitor but because she is unapologetically herself. Serena not only was a dominant force in her craft but she has an unparalleled winner's mentality that no person could take away, truly inspiring to all women in sports. Throughout her career, Serena had countless opportunities to walk away from the game of tennis because of external factors holding her back, instead, she continued to persevere. Despite the fact that I do not play tennis - I believe most all people can learn valuable lessons from Serena Williams, especially woman athletes who share her passion for their sport and aspire to have the work ethic and competitive drive that she does. Personally, I believe that Serena's confidence level intimidates opponents and I wish one day I will have worked hard enough to have that same level of confidence and be as strong of a woman as she is.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means I get the opportunty to to pave the way for future female-athletes
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
I am able to show that I am strong and passionate about athletics. I love when younger girls are able to look up to women in sports and strive to one day be like us.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
I always looked up to Jennie Finch as a kid because she dominated the sport while showing that women can be successful athletes
What does it mean to you to be a woman in sports?
To me, being a woman in sports means that I am part of something much greater than myself, and even greater than my sport. Women who participate in athletics, at any level, are part of a movement advancing the place of women in a society where we have to constantly fight for equality in almost every facet of our lives. That being said, I consider myself incredibly lucky to be a female athlete at this point in time, because although we still have a ways to go, we are in a much better situation than many of our female predecessors who did not have the chance to compete in sports at all. Having the opportunity to compete amongst like-minded people, whilst taking steps forward in a cause that I feel so strongly about is something that I will be forever grateful for.
Do you have a female sports role model that inspired you when you were younger or you look up to now? If so who and why?
When I was younger one of the women who offered me a lot of inspiration was Maya Moore. I loved the way that she played basketball; her game was fun to watch and she did things on the court that wasn't typical in the women's game. Although all of those things are still true, what inspires me the most about her now is the way she uses her platform to spread awareness, and gain support for, causes that she is passionate about, as well as, her willingness to make sacrifices in her own life for those causes.
What does being a woman in sports mean to you?
It means a great deal to me, that I've been able to be a part of such a strong culture for most of my life. Softball has been a large influence in my life, college education, and career, and it's a privilege to be able to continue the cycle by coaching strong female athletes on the softball team.
What does being a woman in sports mean to you?
Being a woman in sport is so important not only because it is a way to level the playing field in gender equality, but because it empowers women to be confident and stand up for themselves. I want the women and girls in sport around me to embrace their ability with courage and fight for equality. We are the role models who inspire the next generation of female athletes. Women deserve to have opportunities in sports that allow them to discover their strength.
What does being a woman in sports mean to you?
As an athlete and now a coach it has always meant being brave, taking risks and pushing limits all the while supporting those around you to do the same! Don't ask "Can I?", find out "How can I?" and then do it.