Today, we celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress and continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. The annual events that take place in celebration of the holiday are organized by members of the NGWSD Coalition, including the Women’s Sports Foundation which was founded by female tennis legend and icon Billie Jean King in 1974.

At Lead Sports Co., we are so grateful for all the amazing women who paved the way before us and are proud to use our platform to continue to inspire other women for generations to come. To celebrate, we asked some of our favorite role models and team members what sports mean to them and how it has changed their lives:

• LILLY KING - 2x USA Olympic Swimmer

• KRISTY KOWAL - USA Olympic Swimmer

• ELIZABETH BEISEL - 3x USA Olympic Swimmer

• DAGMARA WOZNIAK - 2x USA Olympic Saber Fencer

• GABBY PIONTKOWSKI - Binghamton University, Soccer Defender (Junior)

• MELANY MARQUEZ - California State University, Long Beach, Water Polo Goalie (Junior)

• AVERY HALL - Cherry Creek High School, Swimmer (Senior)

• PETRA ALOYIAN - Woodrow Wilson High School, Water Polo Player (Freshman)

What sports did you play growing up and why did you enjoy them?

LK: I swam, did gymnastics, ran track and cross country, and played baseball and volleyball. I enjoyed them all but swimming was always my favorite!

KK: Growing up I participated in T-ball, track and field, tap, ballet, jazz, gymnastics, water polo, and swimming.

EB: Growing up I played soccer, basketball, ballet, and swimming. I enjoyed the mix of team and individual sports, and I think that played a hand into the teammate and athlete I ultimately became. Each sport came with its individual challenges which taught me lessons like perseverance, mental toughness, and confidence.

DW: I tried gymnastics first then moved on to karate. I really began to enjoy the competitive combat aspect of the sport. After the club closed my dad found another sport, fencing, that combined combat, and competition. I fell in love instantly!

GP: When I was growing up I played a few different sports! I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse.  I loved playing all of these sports because they gave me the opportunity to meet new people and build new relationships, they taught me all about leadership skills, teamwork, hard work, and positivity, and most importantly they taught me that loving a sport shouldn't feel like a job, it should be a passion.

MM: I didn’t grow up playing many sports and learned how to swim during my summer breaks. In high school, I joined both the swim and water polo teams where I started out as a field player and quickly transitioned as a goalie.

AH: Growing up my mom and my aunt were swim coaches, so they taught me to love the sport just as much as they did! I also played volleyball and did gymnastics but swimming always held a special place in my heart. Even though swimming is an individual sport, I’ve always loved the energy that my teammates and I create every day at practice and how we always pushed each other to work hard.

PA: Before high school, I played volleyball, jiu-jitsu, and water polo. All three sports have their own form of competition and have allowed me to meet amazing teammates and friends that challenge me to be a better athlete every day. When I started water polo in fifth grade, I fell in love with the game and have been playing it ever since.

What's the biggest challenge you've had to overcome playing your sport and how did it make you a better athlete?

LK: My biggest challenge was not having a consistent facility to train at when I was growing up. I never knew if the pool was going to be open, or if the water was going to be a foot low, or if the water would be too hot to train in. It taught me that I didn’t need perfect conditions to perform at a high level. Now at big meets, if something goes wrong, I am basically unfazed.

KK: The biggest challenge I had to overcome happened the first time I attempted to qualify for the Olympic team in swimming. I was a senior in high school and was ranked #2 in the country in my event. At the Olympic Trials in swimming the top 2 in each event qualify for the Olympic team. I ended up finishing in 3rd place by .17 of a second, narrowly missing the team. That was devastating and heartbreaking to my 17-year-old self. To add insult to injury, a magazine that was the premier source of information in our sport featured me on the cover crying to demonstrate the “agony” of the Olympic Trial meet for anyone not placing first or second. The girl who had placed second was also featured smiling and waving to demonstrate the “ecstasy” of those who qualify.  

At first, I was not just disappointed, but I was also embarrassed.  But I knew that if I ended up quitting swimming, I would never achieve my goal of making an Olympic team. So I used that cover of the magazine as motivation. Every time I wanted to quit or give up,  I thought of that magazine cover. I looked at that cover.  I reminded myself that there is a lesson to be learned in every disappointment, so I looked forward to what is next, rather than the past, which you cannot change.

EB: The biggest challenge I had to overcome as a swimmer was the constant pressure to perform. At times it would be nearly debilitating, but I always found a way to turn that pressure into something that helped my performance. It helped me recognize that pressure is often a privilege, and I was feeling this extreme pressure because I truly cared about my sport, my teammates, and my individual performance. This control over my nerves and my internal thoughts helped me as an athlete, especially at high pressure meets like the Olympics.

DW: My biggest challenge has been confidence. Being a female in athletics there are a lot of things you should and shouldn’t do according to a male-dominated sport. This shattered my confidence for a long time because I wasn’t able to stay true to what I wanted to do, say, or act.

GP: The biggest challenge I had to overcome playing my sport was my freshman year of college when I got blood clots in my legs that traveled to my lungs, almost causing me to pass away from a stroke. This challenge made me a better athlete because I was out of soccer for a total of nine months which is the longest I have ever been away from playing soccer. During those nine months, I focused on becoming a stronger team player and helping my teammates on the sideline. I also focused more on my mental health and found my passion for mental health, fitness, and all things that have to do with living a healthy lifestyle. 

It was very tough to be out of soccer for that long, but it was also a blessing because it taught me that I should not take things for granted in life and every day is a blessing to be alive.  With this new appreciation of life, I now work even harder on and off the field and I push my teammates to be the best that they can be too because who knows what could happen. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and this setback just made me come back even stronger as a person and an athlete.

MM: I think the biggest challenge for me was proving to others that I could do it. At times, I felt like many of my teammates or male counterparts underestimated my tenacity and grit as a female athlete. I realized that I played water polo because I wanted to play the game and I belonged in the pool. I realized I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone because I trained and played my heart out for ME. Over the course of my athletic career, I have developed a growth mindset that has allowed me to build confidence and practice positive self-talk so I am more on top of my game every time I train.

AH: The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome in swimming is coming to realize that while being humble is extremely important, there is a difference between being cocky and being confident. Coach Christen is actually the person that taught me this at my very first Lead Sports Summit! I often struggled with being proud of my accomplishments for fear of making my other teammates feel bad, but by doing so never allowed myself to reach my own potential. Learning this lesson has helped me both in and out of the pool to build my own confidence and take pride in my hard work and the goals I’ve come to accomplish.

PA: The biggest challenge I have faced was competing against older girls when I was still in elementary and middle school. When I was in seventh grade, I played in the 12u division and was frequently brought up to the 16u and 18u teams where I was challenged to play against opponents who were twice my size. I think these experiences prepared me for high school water polo and gave me a better grasp of the game after so many years of having to adapt to more advanced gameplay.

What does a strong female athlete look like to you?

LK: A strong female athlete is someone who isn’t afraid to show her competitive side and stay true to who she is.

KK: To me, a strong female athlete isn’t just physically strong and winning races or competitions. A strong female athlete is a role model that is inspiring the next generation through her words and actions. She’s showing young girls that through passion, dedication, and perseverance they can not only dream big, crazy dreams, but they have the power to make those dreams come true.

EB: A strong female athlete lifts up her teammates, shows up when she’s needed, and is never afraid to challenge herself. She believes in herself and exudes so much self-confidence that it rubs off on her teammates, making them confident as well. She is respectful to her competitors but isn’t afraid to beat them. She is a hero.

DW: A strong female athlete is just that... AN ATHLETE, a force to be reckoned with. She makes moves based on how to improve and attack the competition. How to dominate and continue dominating. She gets knocked down and grapples her way back up no matter what. Relentless.

GP: To me, a strong female athlete is someone who does not care what other people think. It is someone who does the things they do for them and no one else. A strong female athlete is someone who works hard every single day and does not feel defeated if they are presented with a challenge, they rise to the challenge and do whatever it takes to overcome it.

MM: A strong mindset. A strong female athlete practices positive self talk. She is able to see a mistake as a learning experience and knows how to motivate herself to keep going.

AH: To me, a strong female athlete is someone who is confident in her decisions, humble in her achievements, knows her own strengths, and is willing to put in hard work in order to reach her goals. However, she also knows the strength of her team and is not afraid to ask for help when she needs it. Additionally, she is open to change and sees the value in growing outside of her comfort zone.

PA: A strong female athlete is confident, determined, and works well with others. She pushes herself and her teammates to work hard and become the best versions of themselves.