Until recently, women have been largely excluded from competing at the highest levels of sports, as a result of systemic barriers and deeply rooted biases, according to womenshistory.org. However, trailblazing female athletes like Ms. Billie Jean King, Ms. Patsy Mink, Ms. Bernice Sandler, Ms. Mia Hamm, Ms. Serena Williams, and Ms. Simone Biles challenged these restrictions, proving their talent and resilience on the world stage. Their relentless pursuit of equality not only led to historic milestones, such as the expansion of professional women’s leagues and increased representation in elite competitions but also redefined what is possible for future generations, according to cnn.com. By breaking through these limitations, female athletes have ensured that athletic ability, instead of gender, determines who gets to compete in sport at the highest level, according to olympic.com.
Ms. King was one of the first athletes to make a huge impact on women’s sports, according to olympics.com. In 1973, she defeated Mr. Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, proving that women could compete at the highest level. Additionally, she fought for equal prize money in tennis, leading to the United States (US) Open becoming the first major tournament to pay men and women the same. She also founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), giving female athletes a voice in their sport, according to adweek.com.
Another major turning point came with the passage of Title IX in 1972, which had been influenced by female athletes and advocates like Ms. Mink and Ms. Sandler, according to uscourts.gov. This law required schools to provide equal athletic opportunities for girls and women, leading to a massive increase in female participation in sports, according to universityofcalifornia.edu. Before Title IX, fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports in the United States (US), now, that number is in the millions. Athletes like Ms. Hamm, who helped bring women’s soccer to global fame, and Ms. Williams, who dominated tennis for decades, benefited from the opportunities created by this law.
More recently, athletes like Ms. Biles have continued to break barriers. Ms. Biles, considered the greatest gymnast of all time by many, has used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and athlete safety, showing that strength is about more than just physical ability, according to forbes.com. Ms. Biles, like the athletes who came before her, is not just changing her sport but is also shaping a future where the world values, respects, and gives same opportunities to women in athletics as their male counterparts, according to washingtonpost.com.
Role models in women’s sports are essential for inspiring future generations and driving lasting change. When young girls see athletes like Ms. Williams, Ms. Biles, and Ms. Hamm excelling at the highest levels, they realize that they, too, can achieve greatness, according to beyondsport.org. Beyond inspiration, these athletes use their platforms to advocate for equality, pushing for fair pay, better opportunities, and increased media coverage, according to voiceinsport.org. These athletes’ influence extends beyond the game, shaping a culture where talent matters more than gender. By breaking barriers and challenging outdated norms, they create a path for the next generation to go even further, ensuring continued progress in women’s sports, according to olympics.com. Coach Michelle McCrae, Assistant Athletic Director, spoke about the importance of having role models to look up to as a growing woman in sports, and why it is important that all growing athletes have someone to look up to.
“You are going to have days where you just do not know what to do. Having a role model to look up to allows athletes to pull experiences from people that they admire.” Coach McCrae said. “ Having someone who has been tremendously successful in their career as a role model serves as a reminder to athletes that it is important to celebrate the small victories.”
Featured Image by Catherine Ononye ’27
