Women Influencers in Canadian Sport Introduction

PreviousNext

As athletes, activists, mentors and entrepreneurs, women have dramatically changed the face of Canadian sport. Overcoming gender barriers, pioneering women who found competitive success often set transformative precedents that changed established ideas about what female athletes could accomplish on the field of competition in many different sport disciplines. Many became entrepreneurs who affected practical change that improved women's access to sport, establishing new facilities for women to train and play sport, creating better competitive opportunities, and even developing and marketing more practical athletic attire. Female athletes have also become mentors, creating supportive communities to educate, inspire and encourage younger generations. Others have challenged corruption in elite competition, tackling controversial issues in international sport with courage and determination. Effecting positive change, female athletes have broken down gender inequality and injustice, transforming Canadian sport into a more inclusive reflection of the nation's core values.