From athletes who have shattered gender barriers to women who have overcome tremendous obstacles in their personal lives, the following stories show that the impact of women throughout history continues to shape and influence our lives today. So, let's dive in and learn about the women who inspire us to be better, stronger, and more resilient.
This Women's History Month, Gold Athletics' staff took time to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of women throughout history. We asked our female teammates to share about the women who inspire them the most. Their responses were diverse and ranged from famous athletes to historical figures, family members, and personal heroes. In this blog post, we will highlight some of their inspiring stories and the impact they have had on our team members:
Alex: "For the past few decades, I’ve found inspiration in Arianna Huffington’s leadership and empowerment philosophies. Arianna co-founded The Huffington Post while I was in college, and it quickly became one of the most popular news and opinion websites in the world. I followed closely as her vision created a platform for a diverse range of voices and perspectives to be heard, and in doing so, she transformed the way news was consumed and shared. She also began discussing and emphasizing the importance of well-being in the workplace long before it was popular; she launched Thrive Global with this exact mission in mind. As a pioneer for women in modern business and society, Arianna has modeled the type of influence I hope to have throughout my career!"
Julie: "There are so many incredible women in our history it is difficult to choose just one!! A woman who jumps into my mind is Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to “officially” run in the 1967 Boston Marathon. I recall learning about her when I was a teenager and it made an impression on me. Because apparently in 1967, women were not allowed to participate in this marathon, which just seemed absurd! During the race, one of the co-directors tried to rip her bib off of her to prevent her from continuing! But Switzer just ran faster and got away from him. The images of this man chasing a woman down the street in broad daylight to force her out of simply running a race is so bizarre. I am grateful to all women out there like Switzer for their bravery that redefined the rules concerning women’s participation in something as simple as running a race."
Melissa: "My mother. I lost my mother when I was only 12 years old. In those 12 years my mother taught me so many things that have stuck with me and I have passed on to my children. My mother was a juvenile diabetic from the age of 7 until she passed at the age of 37. Back in the 1940’s not much was known about diabetes. Thank God we have made tremendous strides in treating this disease but my mother did not live long enough to benefit from them. Instead, from the age of 7 every morning she was given a shot until her passing. Can you imagine having to endure that illness in the 1940’s at such a young age. Drs told my grandparents that she would not live to see her 18th birthday and she would never have children. She lived until 37 and had 2 children! I was blessed with 12 years of her love and kindness. She knew her life was short. I never saw her cry or feel sorry for herself. She taught me what she could in those 12 years and prepared me as best as she could for her passing that she knew would be coming earlier than most."
Dane: "A woman that inspires me is Katie Ledecky. I actually went to a catholic high school down the street from Katie's catholic high school, so I have gotten the pleasure of meeting her in person at the pool all the local high schools' shared. Katie is a phenomenal swimmer, but also a truly kind-hearted person who treated everyone with a lot of respect. I never heard a negative thing about Katie or how she carried herself at the pool or at school. She has this air of positivity around her that I think serves her very well in swimming. Based on my VERY small level of interaction with her, it seemed like she was always trying to find the good in each day. I think it is amazing that she has been able to accomplish so much in 24 years, but it is even more impressive to me that she has done it with so much grace. Katie inspires me as an athlete to push myself to the next big challenge, but Katie also inspires me as a person to always be kind and considerate of others."
Anna: "Bethany Hamilton is one of the most inspiring women in sports for me. She is truly unstoppable. A terrifying shark attack at age 13 left her without a left arm. But it did not break her spirit – she refused to be defined by that experience. Instead, she made seemingly impossible – learned to surf using only one hand. Bethany returned to professional surfing several months later and went on to have a very successful career."
Liz: "I’m not going to lie, it's very hard to pick one. There are just too many amazing women that have done and are doing amazing things in this world from inventors, leaders, women fighting equality, racial equality, women’s rights and so on. Anytime I hear the stories of all these wonderful women they all inspire me a little to be a better woman, mother, wife, sister, friend, and just an all-around better person."
Michelle: "Bethany Hamilton hands down! The American professional surfer who was attacked by a shark in 2003, losing her arm yet still continued on with her professional surfing to win many more titles. She is a reminder that we are capable of picking ourselves back up after anything we find ourselves struggling to overcome, and that we are capable of much more than we know."
Charlotte: "Serena Williams. I've enjoyed watching her play since I was a little girl. She is an icon in the world of tennis, having won numerous titles, one of the greatest athletes of all time. Beyond her athletic achievements, she has also been an advocate for social justice and gender equality, using her platform to speak out against issues like racism and sexism. She is a force and such an inspiration to me!"
Brylee: "Danica Patrick is an inspiration to me. She is one of the only female race car drivers to this day and the first woman to receive NASCAR's Most Popular Nationwide Driver award in NASCAR's top three divisions. She faced a lot of criticism from males in and out of the industry but never gave up. She showed that she is not afraid of doing something different and wasn't afraid of participating in a male dominated sport."
As March comes to a close, we are reminded of the remarkable women who have shaped our world and continue to inspire us every day. From the brave and trailblazing women who fought for equality and justice to the athletes who have broken barriers and redefined what is possible, their legacies are a testament to the resilience, determination, and strength of women. We are grateful for the women who have inspired our Gold Athletics team members and hope their stories will continue to inspire others for generations to come.
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