Missy Franklin Leads Laureus Sport For Good Charge For Gender Balance in Youth Sports

Missy Franklin in Sri Lanka in 2015. Photo Courtesy: Buddhika Weerasinghe

Missy Franklin has been a champion of gender equality and role model for young female (and male) athletes for years. She is part of the Laureus Academy and leading figure in the Laureus Sport for Good campaign.

Franklin wrote a letter based on the Laureus annual review, which revealed some interesting numbers in the rise of numbers in girls sports.

Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin wrote this about the Laureus Sport For Good:

Back in March, on International Women’s Day, along with my other fellow women Laureus Academy Members, I was asked to spell out my wishes for the year ahead.

I remember saying: “My hopes center around every young girl waking up and knowing that she has the opportunity to chase her dreams and fight for her goals every single day.”

This is a passion for me. I want to see girls, and young women, realize their potential.

What I love about being a member of the Laureus Academy and supporting the work of Laureus Sport for Good, is that through our programs we get this done. It’s not just about being the best athlete, it’s about being a more capable and fulfilled person with better life-skills and hopes of a better future. Sport is the most amazing avenue to make that happen.

That’s why I loved reading the latest edition of the Laureus Sport for Good Review for 2020 which spells out the continuing progress which girls and young women are making in sport, wherever you look.

Figures from the review show grass roots sports with strong or equal levels of female involvement are up: netball by 73%, swimming over 200%, dance 112%, volleyball 11% and track and field by 41%.

These statistics mark significant trends. Laureus Sport for Good is a global network which funds, supports and evidences the impact of more than 250 community sports programs around the world, which in 2020 directly involved more than 270,000 young participants. It’s not a worldwide census, but it’s a fascinating glimpse of what is going on.

And the trend is strong in many sports often seen as a ‘male only’ preserve, where girls are challenging the norm. One of the biggest female increases – surprisingly, or maybe not – is in boxing and martial arts, where Laureus supports several programs which are principally female based or appeal to all.

It shows how committed Laureus is to its pledge of gender equality, and in its support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – including via its ‘Women & Girls’ Social Focus Area, which makes grants to organizations using sport to create equality, empowerment and safety for girls and young women.

I want every young girl to have something to look up to, to aspire to, and to learn from, because we all got to where we are today by standing on the shoulders of those that have come before us. That’s what Laureus programs deliver in more than 50 countries and territories around the world.

It’s heartening to see. And another step on the road.

I think after the 18 months we have had, we need that message more than ever.

— Missy Franklin

According to the review, traditionally male-dominated sports are being challenged for popularity by sports and physical activity usually more favored by girls and young women, while girls are also increasing their involvement in sports once regarded as predominantly male – suggesting the idea of “boys’ sports” or “girls’ sports” may be becoming an outdated concept.

Figures show grass roots sports with strong or equal female involvement are up: netball by 73%, swimming over 200%, dance 112%, volleyball 11% and track and field by 41%. While long-established, mainly male-dominated sports, are down: soccer by 17%, basketball 6%, rugby 18% and cricket 13%.

The review monitored the activities of more than 250 community sports programs around the world, involving more than 270,000 young participants, in 2020.

The trend is significantly stronger in many sports often seen as male-dominated, where girls in these targeted Sport for Development programs are challenging the norm and overcoming the more established pattern of girls dropping out of sport as they reach adolescence.

It is another way Missy Franklin is being part of the bigger picture in sports.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use