5 Memorable Moments in Women’s Sports
It feels like I learn every day there is an international day of something …
I mean so many that I have to be thankful for Google.
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development and to foster peace and understanding.
But this day really speaks to me as one who enjoys sports and the life lessons that come along. Adding the role that sports play in countries torn by wars and other sorts of violence, I am glad to see we can celebrate both on one day.
Now that I can use sentences like “10 or 20 years ago”, I’d like to share 5 memorable moments that impacted me and gave me faith in the future of women’s sports.
- Roland Garros finale in 1999 : Steffi Graf vs Martina Hingis
For those who follow tennis, they know this tennis match as the final Grand Slam played by legend Graf. In my mind at that time, I believe that was the end of an era (I mean you could all die in 2000 ) but the world of tennis was losing this killer on court. The game was so tense that I remember praying, retaining my breath and almost crying when Hingis played an “unusual” service — alala, quel moment — Graf went on to win the finale and making one happy little girl in Burundi.
2. Semi final World Cup in 1999: USA vs Brazil
This one is a bit blurry but I do remember switching channels and on Super Sport, I saw a football game played by legit players and it was a World Cup. Although, I was not drawn to the game as I would have been to a Manchester United vs Bayern Munich — I did watch the game and somehow find solace in seeing other women not little girls enjoying running after a ball, kicking it.
3. Olympic Games in Rio 2016: Francine Niyonsaba
This one I recall so vividly — I was in France and woke up at 4AM to witness history. A burundian was making history, the first woman to do so — happy to have taken home the silver medal (the gold winner was Caster Semenya, if we have to lose, be better her).
Now, waiting and praying for Tokyo next year where I will not only will be cheering for her but other burundian athletes as well.
4. Olympic Games in Sydney 2000: Cathy Freeman
After surviving the end of the world, the Olympic Games came as a blessing — I think one must have lived under a rock if you didn’t hear about Cathy Freeman. Although I was not familiar with her athletic prouesse, I saw her run and it was beautiful to see she was not running for a “simple” win. That’s the impact of sport and how it not only help overcome obstacles but it is a tool of reconciliation if embraced by a country. Of course, she won. She made history for Australia and brought a sense of pride to aborigines.
5. Playing at a Pro level after giving birth : Case of all the warriors who made that decision.
Although I don’t know what it feels like to give birth, I will use women in my life to get a glimpse of what it feels like and how they have experienced life after giving birth. It is TOUGH. Hope this sinks in our spirits.
So, reading about an athlete wanting to come back and working towards that goal no matter the obstacles she may have encountered during the pregnancy or after; for example, when a sponsor doesn’t feel like supporting her — it gives a face to the word “persistance”, “vision”.
It is amazing to see how we have taken many things for granted : to risk losing money from institutions that cover your expenses in order to address parental leave or the pay gap is still mind-boggling to me.
So here is to Alysia Montaño, Allyson Felix, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, the US “Soccer” Team and the ones we don’t get see on our smartphones.
Cheers to a decade where we will see changes in women’s sports.
What A Time to be alive!
