Female Athletes showing their strength by Ava John
Agnes Jebet Ngetich
Agnes Jebet Ngetich ran 28 minutes 58 seconds over 10km at the Urban Trial de Lille, the third-fastest women’s 10km in history. In this mixed event, Ngetich finished with not only an outstanding time, but very high up the field. After the race, a conversation between Australian distance runner Ryan Gregson and the hosts of the podcast ‘For The Kudos’ disappointingly missed the magnitude of her achievement.
Many questionable comments were made by Gregson, which you can read online here, which generated a media storm. I could focus on the controversy, but that would only take attention away from the athlete who deserves it. I want to give Ngetich the spotlight she deserves. I want to celebrate what an incredible athlete she is, and how exciting it is that we live in an age where women are really pushing athletic boundaries.
In 2024, Ngetich set the women’s 10km world record with an incredible 24 minutes 46 seconds. She also broke the Kenyan national record in the half marathon that same year.
This year, she showcased her dominance by winning the World Cross Country Championships by an impressive 42 second margin to claim her first global gold medal. She followed this with another phenomenal run in France, which was only 12 seconds outside of her world record. This puts her in such a great position going into the major championships that will take place later this summer.
Ngetich’s performance in France reminded me of other female athletes who have competed alongside or against men- something we don’t see very often in the sporting world. I find these stories so interesting and inspiring, so here are three of my favourites:
Eri Yoshida
Yoshida was a professional baseball player who, at the age of 16, was the first woman drafted by a Japanese men’s baseball team. In 2008, she signed a contract to play for the Kobe 9 cruise and played alongside her male counterparts in the league. In 2010, she went on to play for the Chico Outlaws, becoming the first woman to play professional baseball in two countries!
Carissa Moore
Carissa Moore is one of the world’s most talented surfers. At 14 years old, she defeated 60 of Hawaii's top male junior surfers in a contest open to athletes aged 16 and under, to qualify for the Quicksilver King of Groms World Final. Her career only blossomed from there. Five world titles later, Carissa Moore has cemented herself as one of the best surfers of all time.
Carissa Moore courtesy Troy Williams via Wikicommons
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
Of course, there is Billie Jean King and her famous victory over Bobby Riggs in what was known as ‘The Battle Of The Sexes.’ Before defeating Riggs in straight sets, she had said, “I’m taking this match very seriously. I love to win. I welcome the responsibility and the pressure. Bobby had better be ready” and she delivered.
I love these stories because they are a reminder of just how strong and capable we are. Here’s to celebrating women and girls in sport!