This year marked the 34th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day, a celebration to inspire girls and women to play, be active and realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.
In honor of this special day on February 5th, ACTIVE Network hosted a panel of inspirational women in the sports industry to talk about their journeys and the challenges they’ve faced and overcome.
The panelists included:
- Alyson Habetz – associate head coach of University of Alabama Softball
- Chelsea Tiner – accomplished triathlete and IRONMAN champion
- Dawn Grunnagle – professional marathon runner and Olympic trials qualifier
- Nikki Izzo-Brown – head coach of West Virginia University Women’s Soccer
- Rachelle Kunkel – head coach of Clovis Dive Club and Olympic Diver
- Stacy Embretson – senior director of operations at Conqur Endurance Group
Throughout the discussion, the women iterated just how important of a role sports had played in their lives and spoke about how they’ve fought for respect, not just as women but as coaches and athletes.
“It was about more than just earning a spot,” Habetz says. “I wanted them to respect me because I wasn’t just a girl who once played baseball. I had passion for the game.”
Ultimately, the message was clear that with hard work and confidence in themselves, women can accomplish whatever they set out to do. With sacrifice and the willingness to do things you may not always enjoy, success and joy are just around the corner.
To view the entire panel discussion, click here.
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