The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. – Gloria Steinem

I discovered by happenstance that this past Wednesday, February 7th, was National Girls & Women in Sports Day, created, just as it sounds, to encourage the participation of women in sport as well as equal opportunity for them across the board.

Of course, having been a high school cross country runner and soccer player – and then an avid distance runner as an adult until I became too ill, I fully support these ideals.

What is weighing on my mind today is something different.

It happens that, just in the past two weeks, I have encountered several stories of women that have my head spinning – and have set me on fire to see something done to protect women in sport, full stop.

First, two weeks ago, I read Kara Goucher’s book, The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team. As many of you outside the running world likely aren’t familiar with Kara, let me simply say that she is an elite runner and Olympian and tremendously talented. I followed her, cheering her on, throughout her career – and was horrified at what was revealed in her book.

From discrimination at Nike – not being paid throughout her pregnancy, despite continuing to train and making all of the appearances they asked her to – to sexual harassment while training to witnessing doping by her coach with his other elite athlete, Galen Rupp, Kara endured many things at the Oregon Project.

Finally, most appalling, she was sexually assaulted by her coach, Alberto Salazar, who has since received a lifetime ban from the sport – but how does that undo the damage done to Kara and other athletes he has harmed? It doesn’t.

Here is an article with more detail about Kara’s story if you are interested:

Sports Illustrated Kara Goucher Article

Also, from Kara’s book, Mary Cain, another Salazar runner, came to my attention.

This young woman landed at the Oregon Project at just 17 – and somehow went from literally being the fastest American high school female – to being eating disordered with broken bones and terribly ill as a result of her time with Nike.

She and her family have since settled a 20 million dollar lawsuit against Nike and Salazar.

Here is a more detailed article – with many more voices confirming – about the mistreatment at the Oregon Project.

SI Oregon Project Abuse Investigation Article

Having just learned so much about this happening in women’s running, unrelated, the hold I had placed a while ago on Rachael Denhollander’s book, What Is A Girl Worth?, came up – and it was available on Libby.

Rachael Denhollander was the first person to publicly accuse USA Gymnastics physician, Dr. Larry Nassar, of sexual abuse, ultimately leading to the investigation that would imprison him for life. Her bravery would also help unearth years of coverup by USA Gymnastics, ignoring reports of abuse, thus allowing him to continue on.

As I am about to read her book, I asked my husband to watch with me the Netflix documentary, “Athlete A,” about Rachael and all of the women who were, yes, assaulted by Larry Nassar, but, more importantly, who ultimately brought him down.

This film is so powerful – and made me so angry. This man could have been stopped many many times and many girls saved – but no one was listening.

This is an excellent article about the Nassar case, USA Gymnastics, and, finally, the women who were victimized ultimately getting to have their day to individually address him in court:

The Guardian USA Gymnastics Abuse Article.

Lastly, though it seemed unrelated to this topic when it arrived, I love figure skating and had Gracie Gold’s memoir on my wish list to buy with an audio credit as soon it came it out this week.

To start, it is called Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out, so she isn’t pulling any punches as to where she’s going with this one.

This book is a raw and honest accounting from a young woman who has seen the best and worst of her sport. While she gladly takes responsibly for her side of the street with negative experiences, there are so many that are not her fault.

As a figure skater trying to continue to skate as she developed a woman’s body – in a sport where a girl’s body is the ideal – she also developed an eating disorder – that she still has to struggle with to some extent today. She mentions the extent of disordered eating in her sport, particularly among women – and there is definitely a conversation that must be had about this.

She faced a mental health crisis that was not appropriately handled – and lost her best friend in the skating community to suicide tragically as well.

Worst of all, in a revelation that is absolutely shocking – and morally reprehensible for those in a position of authority in her sport, she was raped by another skater – and, though she reported it to SafeSport, she was still forced to see this individual at other events and it was never addressed.

(Of note, now that this has come to light with her book – that SafeSport did nothing – they have issued a statement that they are immediately investigating how this matter was overlooked.)

So much for protecting women.

Gracie’s suffering made my heart ache and I root for her.

Here is a solid piece about Gracie’s book if you are interested:

Gracie Gold Book Article.

Thinking on the totality of this has also reminded me that there has just – in 2022 – been a scandal of abuse in US Women’s Professional Soccer as well.

I’m just going to leave this NPR article here for your consideration because, as it states:

An independent investigation into the scandals that erupted in the National Women’s Soccer League last season found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic in the sport, impacting multiple teams, coaches and players, according to a report released Monday. 

NPR Women’s Soccer Abuse Article.

(Today’s featured post image is the women of US Soccer in protest. You are seen.)

I feel that there was an accidental invisible string – thanks, Taylor – in my recent readings and watchings ahead of National Girls and Women in Sports Day for a reason.

I believe that it is so important, as we absolutely support women’s athletics, that we insist women be safe from all forms of abuse. This is the smallest imaginable ask – and yet it is not happening and we are seeing abuse as an across the board problem in women’s athletics.

I could give so many more examples and it is truly devastating to reckon with.

Protect women and girls in athletics. Always.

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Grace and Blessings.