February has been a month for sports-lovers with the Super Bowl LX taking place on 8 February and the Winter Olympics running 6 to 22 February. This issue of Equality Culture Club fits this theme, delving into the world of athletics and some of the women athletes who inspire us. From record-breaking performances to acts of resilience, we celebrate the strength, determination, and leadership that women bring to sports at every level.
The Winter Olympics are ongoing in Milano Cortina, starring exceptional women athletes like Eileen Gu, Choi Ga-on, and Nika Prevc. While this has been a notable year for progress at the Olympics – women make up 47% of participating athletes, up 1.6% from Beijing 2022 – there is still more to be done to ensure gender equality. Women, for example, are still unable to compete in the Nordic combined, an event that has only been available to men since 1924. We can continue to encourage gender equality by watching women’s sporting events and supporting female athletes by purchasing their books and engaging with their content online.
Here are a few athletes who have caught our attention this year or who continue to inspire us, years after their Olympic debut:
Choi Gaon made history this year by becoming the youngest snowboarder to earn a gold medal and first Korean woman to win an Olympic medal in snow sports. At only 17-years-old, she is being described as a “force” after overcoming a crash to cinch gold. She is living proof that age is no barrier to greatness when talent meets unshakable determination.
“I want to become an athlete who continues to surpass her own limits.”
Sarah competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics as Ecuador’s first female Winter Olympian and was the only athlete to represent her country in Beijing. She participated in the Women’s Giant Slalom, an alpine skiing event. Though she didn’t finish, her involvement paved the way for other Olympic hopefuls and served as an inspiration for young girls.
“It’s my responsibility and my duty to represent my parents’ country, and it’s an opportunity to be a voice for women my age and a voice for the new generation to reach out and tell them everything is possible if you follow your dreams.”
While Oksana officially represents the United States in the Paralympics, she also feels deeply connected to Ukraine, her place of birth. Oksana spent her first few years in orphanages and persevered through medical difficulties stemming from radiation exposure in-utero before being adopted by a professor in the United States. Her story is one of resilience and strength, and she is now the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian with nine gold medals, seven silver medals, and three bronze medals.
We recommend:
Oksana Masters’ memoir “The Hard Parts: A Story of Courage and Triumph” follows her life story from the orphanages of Ukraine to the pedestals of the Paralympics. She reveals the emotional and physical battles behind her success and demonstrates that with enough grit and perseverance anything is possible.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are Militiana’s third Games, following PyeongChang and Beijing. She is the first African woman to be a three-time Winter Olympian, and this year, she again held the distinct honour of being Madagascar’s flagbearer in the opening ceremony. She competes in the Women’s Slalom and Giant Slalom, and through her work, she is carving a path of possibility for future generations of women.
“I’m proud of me, I want people to be proud of it, of me and also I want to share my passion.”
Femke amazed viewers around the world when she broke the Olympic record for the Women’s 500m in speed skating, earning a gold medal. She also earned silver in the Women’s 1000m. Her performances cemented her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars and signaled a new era of excellence in speed skating.
“This is what I dreamed about as a little girl, and that it happens today is so special.”
Lindsey dared to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite a ruptured ACL. These were her fifth Olympics, after starring in Salt Lake City, Turin, Vancouver, and PyeongChang in varying alpine skiing events and earning two bronze medals and one gold medal. Unfortunately, Lindsey was unable to finish her event after breaking her leg mid-run, but her resilience and determination to pursue her dreams despite injury and after coming out of retirement are nothing short of inspirational.
“Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”
We recommend:
Lindsey Vonn’s memoir “Rise” chronicles her journey to becoming the most decorated female skier in history. From devastating injuries that jeopardized her career to deeply personal battles with depression, she reveals the resilience and sacrifice required to achieve greatness.
For more recommendations by women athletes, read our Equality Culture Club issue from the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
The Olympics are finally having their #MeToo movement, and female athletes from around the world are speaking out about sexual harassment, physical abuse, and the sexualization of sports. In 2020, we partnered with Athlete A, a documentary that chronicles the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and the brave survivors who spoke out and demanded accountability. If you haven’t seen it yet, now is the perfect time to catch up on the story that helped lead the charge against sexism in elite sports.
The Olympics demonstrate the best that humankind has to offer in athletics, and the Games often inspire young people to pursue sports and reach their full potential. Here are two book recommendations to further inspire your littles:
“Kid Olympians: Winter” by Robin Stevenson
Full of beautiful illustrations by the talented Allison Steinfeld, “Kid Olympians” depicts the childhood stories of famous Winter Olympic athletes around the world, including figure skater Surya Bonaly and snowboarder Chloe Kim.
“Fearless Heart” by Frank Murphy and Surya Bonaly
“Fearless Heart” is the illustrated biography of French figure skater Surya Bonaly. The book follows her time on the ice, including her legendary backflip at the Olympics in 1998.
We want to hear from you! Share your suggestions and media recommendations, such as podcasts, movies, plays, books, and more, for Equality Now’s Equality Culture Club today.
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