Five Trailblazing Women Making History in Sport

Women are making their mark in the world of professional sports like never before. Here are five women who are leading the charge and setting the path for a generation of girls behind them. We have always said at We are Girls in Sport, “if you cannot see them, you cannot be them” and it has been so inspiring to see female athletes making history in their sport. In this blog, we celebrate the progress which has been made for women in sport and although there is still so much more work to be done, we recognise these trailblazing women and girls who are breaking barriers in their sport.

Here are five leading the charge…

Sarah Thomas

Advocates of women in sports are growing and this year’s NFL Super Bowl included a first for women. Sarah Thomas made history in February 2021 when she in became the first female official in the NFL’s biggest game, the Super Bowl LV. Sarah Thomas made up one part of the seven-person crew in the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay.

Sarah Thomas, 47, became the first woman to referee full-time in the N.F.L. In 2009, she was profiled in the was profiled by The New York Times after being recognised as a major college football’s only female referee. NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, Sr. said in a statement. "Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official," Vincent said. "Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Sarah on this well-deserved honour." It is clear to see that Sarah Thomas is extremely passionate about her job in sport. In 2019, Sarah Thomas told CBS News, "I've always said that if you do something because you love it and not try to prove somebody wrong or get recognition for it, the recognition probably just is going to happen,"

Mayar Sherif

Mayar was born in Egypt and grew up in Spain. Mayar Sherif studied at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. She arrived at Pepperdine looking for the opportunity to take her tennis to new heights. ears later, she’s a trailblazing professional coming off a breakout performance on one of the tennis world’s biggest stages.

Tennis supserstar, Mayar, has made history by becoming the first Egyptian to qualify for the main draw in the French Open. Thousands took to social media to celebrate the player known as “Egypt’s Golden Star,” after winning her Grand Slam match at The Australian Open.

She was also the first Egyptian tennis player to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games, after she beat Colombian Maria Osorio 6-4, 6-0 in the French Open, also known as Roland-Garros Series. As quoted in Pepperdine Graphic, Sherif said; “my parents love tennis. They always watch tennis, so they basically got me into the sport. Then I fell in love with the sport, and it became my way of life.”

Sherif has three sisters, all of whom play tennis at the national level. Sherif’s older sister played college tennis at Fresno State, where Sherif played there with her for two seasons, then transferred to Pepperdine after her sister graduated.

Pip Hare

Since leaving school at the age of eighteen, Pip Hare has made sailing her life. Despite growing up in a land locked county in the East of England, Pip has dreamed of taking part in the Vendee Globe race since first reading about it as a teenager, while still at school.

Pip has a professional sailing career which spans 25 years, she has sailed most of the world’s oceans but only found the opportunity to break into solo sailing ten years ago, when she entered the OSTAR race from Plymouth UK to Newport, USA. Since completing that race Pip has worked her way through the International ranks of solo and ocean racing, competing in all the major classes, training with determination, project managing and fundraising for her own campaigns every step of the way.

Pip Hare has now achieved a lifelong dream by finishing the Vendée Globe, the first British skipper in the 2020 race. Pip finished the Vendée Globe on Medallia in 19th position, with a final time of 95d 11hr. Sailing the second-oldest boat in the fleet, the 21-year-old former Superbigou built by Bernard Stamm, she finished within a few hours of the two closest foilers ahead (Alan Roura’s La Fabrique in 17th, and Stéphane le Derision on Time for Oceans).

Pip Hare is only the 8th ever female skipper to complete the Vendée Globe (four of which have been English). Before setting out, Hare had hoped to beat Ellen MacArthur’s record for a female skipper of 94 days. She just missed out on that (Clarisse Cremer has set a new female record this year in 12th place at 87 days); it doesn’t matter. This race has been a slower one than expected for almost every competitor, but everyone who has followed Pip’s race will know that she has sailed Medallia’s socks off. She told YachtingWorld.com “I never thought it would be like this, I never thought I would be playing with foiling boats,” she said in disbelief at the finish. “It’s been incredible.”

Joy Neville

Joy Neville is working hard to change perceptions in rugby. As a former professional rugby player herself, Joy Neville grew up playing rugby. Growing up in Limerick, Ireland with four rugby-playing older brothers, Joy was frequently clashed heads in the back garden.

Joy went on to become a highly successful athlete in rugby, making seventy appearances for the Ireland women's national rugby union team. She captained the team during the 2009 Women's Six Nations Championship, leading the Ireland women to their first win over France. Additionally, she represented Ireland at both the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cups.

Joy had an impressive career and according to an article published in The Guardian, Joy Neville never wanted a career as a referee. Joy had just retired as her role as the Ireland rugby captain after winning the Six Nations in 2013. She was planning some quality time with her family when the IRFU’s referee development manager, David McHugh, telephoned her and asked if she would consider a career change as a referee. “Absolutely not,” was her reply. But McHugh would not let it go. So, Joy picked up the phone to one of the most senior and respected men she knew in rugby union and asked him if he thought a woman could ever referee the top men’s division in Ireland. He said: “Joy, not in my lifetime.” Joy replied, “So, I called Dave back and said: ‘Right, I’m in!’”

Joy went on to become was the first woman to officiate a professional European match, the second to referee a men’s international in the region and has since taken charge of fixtures in the European Challenge Cup and PRO14. Joy Neville has also refereed on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and took charge of the Rugby World Cup 2017 final between England and New Zealand, the same year she took home the World Rugby Referee Award.

In an interview to World Rugby, Joy said “to be honest, it’s probably when I look back when I’m finished that I’ll probably properly comprehend and really understand my achievements.” In February 2021, Joy Neville became the first woman to officiate a Guinness Six Nations rugby game and Hollie Davidson became the second woman to be appointed to a Pro 14 fixture.

Sky Brown

If you already follow Sky Brown on Instagram you will know that her feed is full of fun, energy and sport. You rarely see her without a smile! Sky Brown is a talented, fearless young skateboarder, who is set on achieving her dreams as well as encouraging other girls to achieve theirs.

Skateboarder Sky is set to go to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2021. Born to a British father and a Japanese mother, Sky Brown will be competing for Team Great this year, making her the youngest athlete to compete; an incredible achievement in itself. Sky Brown started skateboarding when she was just two years old. Sky Brown is one of the youngest girls to compete and win medals at professional skateboarding competitions.

In other news, the 12 year old professional skateboarder has been unveiled as the latest Barbie Role Model as the iconic fashion doll brand revealed its new, one-of-a-kind doll created in her likeness. Toy maker Mattel chose to immortalise the young sportswoman to highlight the boundaries that she has already broken for the next generation of girls.

We have equally been really impressed to see how Sky Brown is spending time supporting others. Sky Brown has been helping underprivileged children by collaborating with Skateistan. An award-winning non-profit organisation empowering children and youth through skateboarding and education. In 2018, they launched a new Skate School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Friday where over 100 children celebrated alongside special guests from around the world, including Sky Brown herself.

We love Sky Brown’s ambition for said: “I’m going to push boundaries for girls with my skating and surfing. I’m going for gold in 2021 and nothing will stop me.