This page is dedicated to women firsts in sport. This article highlights women who have made a difference in sports history, such as Michele Roberts leading NFL's coaching staff and Simone Manuel winning seven medals at the world championships. This article also examines the history of Title IX. The 1972 Education Act opened doors to women athletes.
Title IX of Education Act of 1972 opened up possibilities for women athletes
The Education Amendments of 1972 included Title IX, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded educational institutions. The goal was to combat biases against female students. While few schools quickly followed the guidelines, the act represented an important step toward equal participation for women.
More than half of college students now are women. However, women's participation in intercollegiate sports has only just caught up to men's. In fact, until 2005-2006, women were not able to compete with men in college sports. Since then, the number of women participating in sports has risen dramatically. More than 3.4 Million high school girls are involved in athletics. And more than 215,000 women participate at the collegiate level. Title IX now allows women to play more sports than ever.
Simone Manuel became the first woman to win seven medals at a single world championship
Simone Manuel, the first Black woman in the world to win a championship at the swimming pool, was a highlight of the U.S. women’s swimming team. Manuel is a key figure in the sport. In the 400m freestyle relay, she helped Team USA earn a bronze medal. She is an ambassador for USA Swimming Foundation, and advocates increased diversity in the sport.
Manuel's success at the World Championships is particularly impressive because she broke several records. She won the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter freestyle events, earning seven medals overall and participating in two world-record-breaking relays. Despite her success, Manuel recently revealed that she was suffering from overtraining syndrome, which causes an overheated heartbeat and sore muscles. Manuel visited her doctor to learn more about the disease. She was forced to take three weeks off swimming.
Michele Roberts became first woman to lead major professional sports organizations
Michele Roberts became the first woman leader of a major professional sporting union. When she applied for the job, it was a daunting task. She had never worked in labor relations or been involved in sports. Yet, her background in the legal field gave her a leg up.
Roberts was elected in 2014 by the NBPA executive committee. Roberts spent her time in Washington, D.C., working as a trial lawyers. She is a specialist in complex civil litigation, white collared criminal cases, or administrative proceedings. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Jen Welter became the first woman to serve on an NFL coaching staff
Jen Welter, a former running back for Texas Revolution, is the Arizona Cardinals' special teams coach. She is also the first women to coach in a men's professional football league. Welter is determined to encourage women's football. After her playing career, Welter helped create camps for girls and women such as the GRRRidiron Football Camp. She also started a program that helps young people from underserved areas.
Welter was already on her path to being the first female NFL coach. Arians is a man, and he has made it clear that women are welcome on NFL coaching staffs. Welter is an exceptional coach, and she has earned the trust and respect of her teammates. Welter is an outstanding example of a coach who values authenticity as well as teamwork.