Women in sports: what are the most important achievements of recent years?Women in sports: what are the most important achievements of recent years? - Gentlewoman.eu | Portal for Women

In recent years, the role of women in sports has increased significantly. More and more often we see them in sports arenas, where they achieve great success in various disciplines. It used to be that women’s sports did not receive as much attention, but this has changed. The media are beginning to pay more attention to their achievements, and the female athletes themselves are proving that they are just as strong, determined and talented as men.

The growing role of women in sports

Women are playing an increasingly important role in the world of sports, which is no longer limited to the number of medals they win, but also a change in the perception of them as full-fledged competitors. Increasingly, we are seeing female athletes break records, stand on the podium, and their determination and skills match and often surpass the achievements of men. This not only inspires younger generations of girls who, seeing the successes of their idols, dream of a sports career, but also builds awareness that talent and hard work count in sports, regardless of gender.

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At the same time, female athletes are becoming increasingly vocal in their demands for equal treatment. They want the same training conditions, salaries and access to sponsors as their male counterparts. This is not only a fight for justice, but also for respect for their hard work. In many disciplines, women are still paid less or have limited opportunities for career advancement, but their voices are becoming louder, and change – albeit slow – is beginning to happen.

The increased role of women in sports is also a change in the way we think about who can be a champion. More and more people understand that sports is a field in which anyone, regardless of gender, can achieve spectacular success. As a result, fans and sponsors are increasingly paying attention to the female game, which contributes to the further development of women’s sports. As a result, female athletes not only win medals, but also have a real impact on shaping the future of sports, paving the way for future generations.

Seven women who changed the face of sports

In recent years, women in sports have not only won medals and broken records, but also become icons who inspire millions of people around the world. Here are seven outstanding female athletes who have made history with spectacular success in their respective sports.

Here are seven female athletes who have made waves in recent years:

Iga Swiatek
Born in Warsaw, Iga Swiatek is currently the leader of the WTA world ranking. She has won three Grand Slam tournaments (French Open 2020, 2022 and US Open 2022), becoming one of the most talented tennis players of her generation. Her successes inspire younger generations and strengthen Poland’s position in world tennis.

Naomi Osaka
Born in Osaka, Japan, Naomi Osaka has quickly become one of the most popular tennis players in the world. She has won four Grand Slam titles, including the US Open (2018, 2020) and the Australian Open (2019, 2021). Osaka also courageously fights for racial equality and the mental health of athletes, which has made her a leader for social change.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Born in Kingston, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is one of the best sprinters of all time. She won eight Olympic medals, including two gold medals in the 100 meters. Her career inspires many young athletes, and she is an icon of athletics.

Emma Raducanu
Born in Toronto, Emma Raducanu rose to fame after a sensational victory at the 2021 US Open, where she became the first player in history to win a Grand Slam tournament after making it past the qualifiers. Her rapid rise to the world sporting stage has made her one of the most promising young talents in tennis.

Eileen Gu
Born in San Francisco, Eileen Gu competed for China and won two gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She is one of the world’s best-known free skiers, and her international successes have attracted attention in both China and the United States.

Alexia Putellas
Born in Mollet del Vallès, Alexia Putellas is the captain of FC Barcelona and considered one of the best female soccer players in the world. She has won the Golden Ball twice (2021, 2022), confirming her dominance in world women’s soccer.

Sydney McLaughlin
Born in New Brunswick, Sydney McLaughlin broke the world record in the 400-meter hurdles and won gold medals at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Her impressive achievements have made her one of the most talented athletes of the younger generation.

Each of these women not only achieved great success in sports, but also became ambassadors for the changes taking place in sports. Thanks to their efforts, talent and determination, women’s sports today are at a higher level than ever before. They have changed not only their disciplines, but also the social attitude towards women in sports.

Fighting for equal opportunities – the challenges of women in sports

Although women in sports are becoming more successful, they still face many difficulties. The fight for equal opportunities continues, because unfortunately, despite their amazing performance, they often have it worse than men. For example, in many sports, female athletes earn much less than their male counterparts. Even if they win gold medals, break records, or are the best in the world, their salaries are much lower. It’s a problem that doesn’t apply to just one sport, but can be seen virtually everywhere – from soccer to basketball, tennis and other sports.

Another difficulty is fewer opportunities for development. Often women have less access to professional training, smaller preparation budgets, and sometimes simply less support from sports associations. All this makes their path to success sometimes more difficult than for men.

The media and sponsors are also much less interested in women’s sports. Even if a woman achieves great success, her achievements rarely break through to the front pages of newspapers or sports portals. Airtime for women’s sports is also much less. Advertisers and sponsors are much more likely to choose men who have a larger audience. This is a big problem, because nowadays it is the media and sponsors, who help athletes build their careers and earn more.

In addition, female athletes must contend with other forms of pressure. In addition to having to compete for good results on the fields, courts or stadiums, they often also have to deal with expectations about their appearance or behavior. The media and the public can be critical of female athletes, judging them not only for their achievements, but also for how they look, what they say or how they behave. Men in sports rarely face such pressure.

Fortunately, women in sports are beginning to dominate the headlines and television, and their performance is becoming more recognized. Increasingly, it is their names that are on the lips of the whole world, which gives hope that change will accelerate. It’s still a long way off, however, and the fight for a level playing field will continue for some time to come.