Courtesy of People.com
Today and tomorrow mark the best back-to-back holidays: my birthday and International Women’s Day.
To celebrate my birthday today, please manifest a 2016 repeat for the Cavs and a very long-awaited World Series win for the Guardians!
To celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow, I want to highlight the women in sports who inspired me not only when I was an athlete (I was a gymnast and pole vaulter, if you couldn’t tell), but also as a woman in sports, and just as a woman.
Simone Biles
Courtesy of Variety
My favorite athlete of all time and the greatest athlete of all time. I couldn’t not start this list without including the gymnast who has changed the culture of the sport just as much as she’s changed the difficulty of it. Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time with a combined 41 World and Olympic medals, has five skills named after her, competed in three Olympics, and is one of only three gymnasts to have two Olympic all-around titles. She is known for her power and unprecedented and untouchable level of difficulty. Biles is incredibly exciting to watch, especially when she made history so many times while competing.
She’s also inspired me so much when not competing. When Biles pulled out of the 2020 Olympics due to mental health concerns, she sparked conversation about mental health in gymnastics. In a sport that has a history of being rough on girls, physically and mentally, starting at a very young age, it is so important to now have conversation on the importance of taking care of one’s mental health in gymnastics. Biles has not just inspired me and so many other gymnasts, but she has also made us feel less alone. And for that, and for being the incredible athlete that she is, I love her.
My favorite quote from Biles is “I'd rather regret the risk that didn't work out than the chances I didn't take at all.”
Jordan Chiles
Courtesy of the UCLA Bruins
It’s hard to not smile while watching Jordan Chiles compete, especially with how expressive she is when she performs on the floor exercise. When the two-time Olympian and UCLA star is at a competition, it’s clear that she has as much fun cheering on her teammates as she does when she’s competing. Chiles has also changed the culture of gymnastics by being unapologetically herself. In a sport where girls were always expected to be quiet, reserved, and look a certain way, Chiles has proved that not only do you not need to compromise who you are for your sport, but that you can and should express yourself.
During an interview by NPR ahead of the release of her autobiography “I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams,” Chiles was asked about the mark that she’s made in gymnastics. Chiles’ response was, “I feel like I've made a huge mark. You know, people always say Simone changed the game of gymnastics, and I feel like I've changed the culture of gymnastics. Who would have thought a girl would have this many tattoos? Would have lashes? Would have long nails? Would do crazy things or even dance on the side or get interaction with the crowd? I think it's really cool that I've been able to change that perspective of what gymnastics is supposed to be like.” Jordan Chiles really is That Girl. Her autobiography came out just this week and you can check it out by using this link!
My favorite quote from Chiles is “I'm going to do everything that I can do to make sure I can be solid to who I am. I'm going to be authentic. I'm going to be unapologetic; that's just who I am. I'm just going to continue to shine and do everything that I need to do.”
Aly Raisman
Courtesy of ABC
Aly Raisman was my favorite gymnast when I was competing in the sport. The two-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist is just as amazing off the competition floor as she was on it. Raisman speaking up about body image has helped gymnasts to not just feel comfortable with being more muscular than all of their classmates, but to love their muscles. She’s also used her platform to speak up about mental health and to make gymnastics and all sports a safe space for athletes.
Raisman is still involved with gymnastics, now as a collegiate gymnastics analyst for ESPN. I’m forever missing her competing, though, and I’m especially missing her opening tumbling pass on floor!
My favorite quote from Raisman is “You have to remember that the hard days are what make you stronger. The bad days make you realize what a good day is. If you never had any bad days, you would never have that sense of accomplishment!”
Katie Moon
Courtesy of Cleveland.com
I pole vaulted in high school and grew up outside of Cleveland, like Katie Moon, and have been following her career and been a fan of hers for many years now (you can only imagine just how excited I was when she won gold at the Tokyo Olympics!). I had the chance to meet Moon and watch her compete last year at the Katie Moon Pole Vault Classic, which was so much fun!
Moon became the first American woman to win two Olympic medals in pole vault, winning gold in Tokyo and silver in Paris. An amazing athlete to watch in her event, her support and encouragement for her fellow athletes makes her easy to root for, and she makes Cleveland proud. In an interview with Team USA before the Paris Olympics, her advice to women on facing their fears is “Just go for it. Just count to three and go. Or don't even count, just do it. It's scary and it's big, but just take that step. Just take it one step at a time. Find those goals along the way to get to that big scary goal. And yeah, pretty cool things can happen if you just believe that you can do it.”
My favorite quotes from Moon are “Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a 'win-at-all-costs' mindset to have a champion's mentality,” and of course, “Cleveland, this is for you!”
Ilona Maher
Courtesy of PureWow
2024 was the Year of Ilona Maher. We got to see her strength in Paris when she and her teammates won Team USA’s first Olympic medal in the women’s rugby sevens, she graced the covers of Sports Illustrated, we watched her grow as a dancer on “Dancing with the Stars,” and her personality is always shining on social media. Maher is not afraid to be herself and has empowered so many women throughout her journey, especially within just the past year alone.
Maher has used her platform to promote body positivity and support women’s sports, and has also opened up about the gender pay gap in sports, the criticism and negativity women athletes face that male athletes don’t, as well as self-acceptance and confidence. Maher is such an incredible athlete and role model, and each of her new ventures makes her even more inspiring.
My favorite quote from Maher is "It’s O.K. to try things that scare you. It’s O.K. to want to see how strong and powerful your body can be. It’s O.K. to wear what makes you feel the most confident. It’s O.K. to do what you love even if society tells you it’s not ‘ladylike.’ It’s O.K. to make mistakes and learn from them to become a better person. It’s O.K. to take up space and speak your mind.”
Jessica Campbell
Courtesy of KOMO News
This list would not be complete without including Jessica Campbell, the trailblazer who made history as the first woman coach in the NHL. When you see the amount of young girls who are excited to see Campbell behind the bench at Kraken games, repping shirts and holding up signs for her, you know that this is what it’s all about. Campbell always has friendship bracelets to give to young fans when they come up to the glass before games, and signs all of her autographs with “You can & you will.”
My favorite quote from Campbell is “Hopefully somebody else will have a door held open for them versus them having to push it open and find ways to unlock it.”
All the women at Sports Girls Club
Courtesy of Sports Girls Club
I am beyond thankful to have a position with Sports Girls Club and have the empowering opportunity to work alongside so many creative, intelligent, and inspiring women in sports. Happy International Women’s Day to you all!
This list is far from complete as there are so many admirable, inspiring women in sports changing the game both on and off their field of play. Use the comment section below to share which women in sports you’re celebrating on International Women’s Day!
Edited by Giana Robertaccio
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