The History Behind National Girls and Women in Sports Day

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was first held in 1987 to honor Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman and recognize her as the best female volleyball player of her time and for her work to promote equal representation of women in sports. Hyman died of a genetic disorder, Marfan’s syndrome, while playing in a tournament in Japan.

Since then, the day has become a way to honor all women athletes, their accomplishments, and the good things that come from including women in sports. It is also a time to talk about the problems that still exist when it comes to women having equal access to sports. The day also celebrates the progress made since Title IX, a civil rights law, was passed.

Title IX was a law that was passed by the government in 1972, and it completely changed the way women’s sports were seen. The law said that everyone should be able to participate equally in all federally funded programs and activities. This meant that all public schools had to give all students, no matter their gender, the same chances to play sports. Title IX was a breakthrough in women’s sports. Before this, only 1 in 27 girls had access to sports. Today, only two in five girls are affected, which is a positive change.

Girls and Women in Sports Day is observed in all 50 states. The day is usually celebrated by holding community events, award ceremonies, and other sports activities that encourage girls and women to play sports and be active.

How Can You Celebrate?

1. Take part in your favorite sport

The goal of National Girls and Women in Sports Day is to get girls and women to play sports, be active, and reach their full potential. So, use this day as a chance to play your favorite sport and give your mind and body a boost.

2. Acknowledge the fight for equal participation of women in sports

Take this day to thank the people and groups who have been working to make sure women are treated equally in sports. You can use social media to thank those who have helped expand women’s participation in sports and help more people learn about it.

3. Plan your own event

If you’re as excited about National Girls and Women in Sports Day as we are, you can even plan, organize, and host your own N.G.W.S.D. events. The Women’s Sports Foundation has everything you need to put on a great event, including logos, posters, certificates, tips, and a checklist.

Why is it Important?

1. It breaks the gender stereotypes

At least 75% of girls have heard negative comments about girls in sports. National Girls and Women in Sports Day reminds people that women belong in all sports.

2. It inspires girls and women to be active

National Girls and Women in Sports Day helps show how important it is to be physically active and encourages women to reach their full potential.

3. It honors the achievements of female athletes

When people talk about the history of women’s achievements, they usually don’t talk about how sports have helped women become more independent in society. National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrates the accomplishments of women coaches and athletes and recognizes how sports can help women reach their full potential.

A Few of the Greats

1. Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias

“Babe” Didrikson Zaharias was the first famous American woman golfer and the best player in the 1940s and early 1950s. She was successful in golf, basketball, and track and field. She was named “Woman Athlete of the Half Century” in 1950.

Didrikson qualified for the Olympics in 1932 and won five events. She set world records in the javelin throw with 143 feet 4 inches, the 80-meter hurdles, and the high jump and baseball throw twice. She won two gold medals and one silver medal.

She started playing golf in 1935, and she went on to become the most famous golfer. She won the U.S. Women’s Open in 1948, 1950, and 1954, the Western Open in 1940, 1944, 1945, and 1950, and was a Titleholder in 1947, 1950, and 1952, where she won a total of 10 medals.

2. Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jacqueline “Jackie” Joyner-Kersee is thought to be the best track and field athlete of all time. She is a retired American athlete in the women’s heptathlon and long jump. She won three gold medals at the Olympics, as well as one silver medal and two bronze medals. From 1980 to 1985, she competed in women’s track and field and basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was named one of the top 15 women’s basketball players in UCLA history in 1988, and she was named the NCAA’s “Top Woman Collegiate Athlete of the Past 25 Years” in 2001.

Sports Illustrated for Women named Joyner-Kersee the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century, just ahead of Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

She won a silver medal in the heptathlon at the Summer Olympics in 1984. In 1988 and 1992, she won gold and bronze medals in the long jump. Joyner-Kersee currently holds the world record for the heptathlon. She scored 7,921 points and broke the record four times at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

She used to hold the record for the long jump (7.54m), but Galina Chistyakova broke it in 1988 (7.52m).

3. Serena Williams

Serena Williams is one of the best women’s tennis players ever. Her skills and success on the court are unmatched over her long career, but she has been accused of being arrogant and a bad loser. Many people think that the criticism she gets is because she is a strong Black woman athlete. She retired in 2022 with 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name.

Her 23 Grand Slam tournament victories are the most for any player in the modern era. Her trophy collection includes seven Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons, and six US Opens. Along with her sister Venus, Serena also won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. She won the Laureus World Sports Award four times (2003, 2010, 2016, and 2018) and was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine in 2015. All this success has been very lucrative for Serena. She is the highest-earning woman athlete of all time, and in 2016 and 2017, Serena was the world’s highest-paid woman athlete.

MCR’s Commitment to Women Athletes’ Health

Every athlete works their bodies extremely hard and pushes their physical limits. Women are no exception. To be counted among the greats, you have to work harder than everyone else. This pressure has a cost, and that cost could be injuries that end a career. That is why MCR takes such pride in our Sports Medicine and Orthopedic service providers.

Sports injuries keep people from doing what they love and what makes them money. At MCR Health, we know how important it is to get back to full mobility after an injury. Our advanced Sports Medicine experts are here to help you.

Our team of highly skilled doctors has years of combined experience in the field of sports medicine. Some of them have even worked as team doctors for various professional sports leagues. No matter where they have been, they have always provided excellent medical care.

Our Sports Medicine team helps patients get back on their feet in any situation. With our state-of-the-art facilities, our advanced Sports Medicine experts have everything they need to help the people in our community. We want our patients’ winning races, breaking records, finishing projects, and achieving everything they want to with their bodies.

For more information on our Sports Medicine services or to schedule an appointment for your sports-related injury, contact us today!