Women's Sports

Strongwoman competitions test the strength and endurance of competitors with several demanding events, perhaps none more arduous than the Farmer's Walk. Better, though, to show you how it works than try to describe it, and who better to do that than Aneta Florczyk, the World's Strongest Woman? Watch as Aneta sets a record by carrying 154 lb (70 kg) in each hand for nearly 1/10 of a mile (150 m):

A piece by Anna Kessel posted at guardian.co.uk talks about the high incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and other injuries experienced by female athletes. Some are calling this an epidemic. That is most likely hyperbole, but the problem is real. The solution, however, may not be difficult or complicated. For instance, strength training, especially if started at an early age (i.e., under 15), would prevent many if not most of these injuries. The first two risk factors listed at the end of Kessel's piece make this clear:

Adolescence After puberty, risk increases by between two and eight times. While men's muscles gain power, women's become more flexible - this is dangerous without sufficient muscle to keep joints stable.

Ligament dominance Without strong muscle development, women compensate using ligaments to absorb force on the knee.

So do the results when strength training is put into practice along with other measures:

Strength and conditioning programmes have helped White [England and Arsenal defender Faye White], and the England team doctor, Pippa Bennett, believes increased preventative measures in the under-15s through to the senior side are bringing the casualties down. 'You've only got to look at the results of our agility tests to see the improvements,' Dr Bennett says. 'We did that test on the senior team five years ago and we were concerned by the movement patterns being at risk with quite a few of them, but with the strength and conditioning that's all changed. They are fitter for their sport, they learn about the alignment of knee joints and how to move safely.'

Parents and coaches, then, greatly benefit young athletic girls when they encourage them to start training with weights early on. And let us put to rest the silly idea that a girl is somehow remaking herself into a boy when she builds up her muscles; having a strong, healthy body is not the exclusive privilege of boys.

Strength training makes female athletes better athletes (no matter the sport). More important, it makes them less prone to serious injury.

Women's MMA entered a state of limbo last week when EliteXC folded. That organization—with the help of Gina Carano, the sport's biggest female star—produced the first viable women's division. But now women's MMA must find a new home. Ideally, that would be in the UFC, an organization that hasn't shown much interest in it. Michael Rome says on Bloody Elbow that it is time for the UFC to reconsider. I suspect the UFC is looking at this, perhaps other organizations, too. Time will tell.

Because I Played Sports (via SportingNews.com) informs us that Kacy Stuart has been cleared to play on her school's football team.

The Women's Sports Foundation held its Annual Salute to Women in Sports Tuesday night in New York City. The event raised more than $1 million that will be used for "grants and educational and advocacy-related programming." Star female athletes of course attended in abundance, more than 70 of them. Gina Carano was there, and her experience shows us that we still have much work to do before female athletes will get the recognition they deserve, especially when it comes to combat and strength sports.

Television offers up a feast for sports fans this weekend: WNBA finals tonight and Sunday, and Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold Saturday night.

We get a peek at the growing sport of women's wrestling:



I feel heartened after watching this. Women's wrestling is accepted now, and young female wrestlers are encouraged; things really are changing for the better. Body Bar Systems has done its part to help make this happen. I give the folks at Body Bar a big thumbs-up for their steadfast support of women's wrestling.

Gina talks about fitness, her career, and more during her photo shoot for Shape Magazine, seen in this promotional spot for her upcoming fight on CBS:

Kacy Stuart, like Jaime Nared, is, so it seems anyway, too good for her own good. Kacy, who is 14 and just starting her first year of high school, can kick 50-yard field goals (something many National Football League kickers struggle with). Despite having this hard-to-come-by skill, Kacy was dismissed from her school's football team because she is a girl (video story). Fortunately, Kacy's mother is fighting back; but she needs help. Please use the information posted at Because I Played Sports to contact the school and let them know that it is inexcusable to deny talented female athletes their dream, that is, to prevent them from doing what nature—or Providence if you will—gave them the drive and the ability to do.

Much has been written about Kacy's plight, but I think it is Kacy who sums up her situation (and that of many other female athletes) best: "People were built for different things. I'm built to be a kicker. I just don't understand why people don't accept the fact that I like football and I want to play football" (quoted by 11Alive).

I've talked many times, here and elsewhere, about how the formidable physical potential of women is beginning to manifest itself. Indeed, it's now obvious that women can do far more in the physical arena than previously conceded, and what is most frightening to reactionaries, women may soon be routinely competing with, even outperforming, men. Thus it is no surprise that some, disturbed by this emerging, ominous challenge to traditional gender ideals, are laboring to keep it in check—by edict if necessary. (Special thanks to Megan for bringing Jaime's story to my attention.)

Felice gives us an update on her fight career in this behind-the-scenes look at her photo shoot for the August 2008 issue of Black Belt Magazine:

Jenna's story is moving, and one of interest to boxing fans I'm sure. The St. Petersburg Times tells it with written word and multimedia slide show.

In March 2004, 1st Lt. Melissa Stockwell, USA, was deployed to Iraq. Not long after that, on April 13, she was leading a supply convoy through Baghdad when the Humvee she was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. Melissa lost her left leg in that blast, the first female US soldier to lose a limb in Iraq.

But the bomb didn't damage her spirit, if anything it was made stronger. Since losing her leg, Melissa has taught herself again how to ski, become a prosthetist so she can help other wounded veterans, completed several marathons and triathlons, and set US Paralympic swimming records. Today, she is in Beijing getting ready to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games. Melissa is the consummate female warrior-athlete.



TakePride—an organization supporting the troops through art, style, and story—has launched a T-shirt called Stronger in honor of Melissa. The shirt features an image of Melissa swimming and text that tells her inspiring story. A minimum of $5 from each sale of a Stronger shirt will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.





Stronger is available only at www.TakePride.com.

You can keep up with Melissa's adventures in Beijing by following her blog. We wish her the best.

A Wall Street Journal article informs us that more than 40 percent of the athletes competing at the 2008 Beijing Games were female; what is more, that figure is expected to reach 50 percent at the 2012 London Games. Yes, it's overdue, and areas other than just numerical equality still need attention, but this is good news all the same.

For many, it's a struggle to balance spirituality with the practical matter of living a full life. For women, this is sometimes made especially difficult. Thus you have to admire Ruqaya Al Ghasara and what she has been able to achieve without giving up what I'm sure she cherishes most—her faith. (See also this link.)

By the way Not incidentally, Al Ghasara made it all the way to the 200m semifinals.