An intriguing, yet hardly shocking statistic found by the UN Women Organization, states that “by the age of 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys.” While athletes, organizations and fans have all been relentlessly advocating greater female representation in the realm of athletics, perhaps the reason why they are supporting this has not yet been talked about enough. 

Although it cannot be denied that tremendous amounts of progress has been made in the past several years, surrounding the exposure of female athletes, a long journey still lies ahead before genuine equality is realized among men and women in sports. Nonetheless, the momentum of the past several years has given individuals a renewed sense of anticipation. 

There are an abundance of reasons demonstrating why conversations, specifically surrounding the topic of women’s sports, are so important. Some consist of the health benefits it encourages, the cultural shift that’s taken place, changing societal norms and promoting greater inclusivity. One of the biggest and most crucial reasons, however, is the role models that this exposure creates for younger female athletes. This exposure is a vital component in encouraging girls to pursue the sports they are passionate about. The feelings of unshakeable confidence that accompany being able to watch a successful female athlete thrive on a young girl’s television are unmatched. Additionally, it also created sentiments of leadership, resilience and drive.

This subject is one that thrills many female athletes themselves. One of which is Holly Hafeli, a local competitive curler and incredible role model. In this exclusive episode, Holly gives a tell all surrounding her thoughts about the topic of female athletes’ role in uplifting young girls. If you’d like to hear about how this inspirational female athlete is lighting the path for tomorrow’s leaders, take a listen! You’re guaranteed to leave feeling inspired!

(H. Hafeli, personal communication, November 1, 2024)
UN Women. (2024, July). Facts and figures: Women in sport. UN Women – Headquarters. https://www.unwomen.org/en/paris-2024-olympics-new-era-for-women-in-sport/facts-and-figures-women-in-sport