Women’s History Month

To celebrate women’s history month, we reached out to our female athletes at Fulcrum Fitness to hear some of their perspectives on their experiences with sports, role models, and what makes them feel empowered. Thank you to those who answered for sharing your stories and inspirations!

1: Can you describe a female role model in your life?

“In 1980, my eldest (half-)sister went to the Air Force Academy to become a fighter jet pilot. She was vastly outnumbered in the “boys club,” but she broke barriers and soon became a flight instructor, teaching the men how to fly the fastest jet women were (then) allowed to fly. I am still in awe of her trailblazing.”

“My mom - a strong, independent, caring, compassionate and fun person. She is a leader in everything she does. She is inquisitive, and is constantly seeking to learn. She is a busy bee and an advocate for women. She spent her years before retirement as a senior vice president of a marketing company. WAY TO SHINE MA!”

“My grandma died in September 2019 at the age of 95 years old. She was a big role model for me. She grew up in the 20s and 30s and was BIG into sports - watching and playing - which was not common for girls at that time. She was always biking and swimming when I was growing up... she taught me that being a 'tomboy' was not a bad thing and being active and having fun is always important. She was the mom to five boys and her husband (my grandad) was in the Navy, so she basically did everything - took care of kids, worked as a special education teacher, ran the house, cooked, cleaned. She was an amazing woman and a huge badass.”

“I would say my whole running group. There are 4 of us and we run early in the morning 3 days a week together. I can't imagine that I would be as physically or emotionally healthy as I am today without them, especially through the pandemic. Guess what, we all met through Fulcrum too!”

2: Growing up, did you have any female role models in sports?

“Growing up, the only stage for female athletes that really existed were the Olympics, so I admired Mary Lou Retton and Kristi Yamaguchi because they were feminine AND strong; when I saw the first ever Olympic appearance of women’s soccer at the 1996 Atlanta games—and MiaHamm—, it made me want to play soccer, even though (at 16 years old) I’d never played before. Brandi Chastain’s iconic penalty celebration (jersey-less in her sports bra) in the 1998 women’s soccer World Cup sealed my fate as a champion for women’s soccer.”

“I played soccer and was always strong. I looked to my teammates for body confidence because our legs were big and strong but beautiful and got us places quickly, whether that was to the next class, game or yep sometimes running from trouble.”

3: Have you ever had a time where you felt unincluded or unwelcome in a sporting atmosphere?

“I did ballet and gymnastics throughout my childhood, then switched to swimming and water polo in high school, then surfing in college. I always found the focus on women’s appearance in all of these sports to be remarkably exclusive. My body image was directly affected by the pressure to be thin and sexy while also performing athletic feats. I could see the same was not true for my male counterparts.”

“I once took a strength training class at the YMCA and the instructor called me out for being slower, not having good form, and she singled me out in class. This was the first time I attended a strength training class. It was humiliating and until I worked up enough courage to walk into Fulcrum, I just thought I couldn't do it. I wish I could go back and take her class!”

“I remember showing up to my first cross country race and being extremely intimidated. Everyone was tiny and fast and my big, strong soccer legs were not flattered in those barely there shorts. I stuck it out though, and while I didn't ever win a race I always finished them.”

“Yes. Most weightlifting gyms/spaces I saw were almost entirely men.”

4: What makes you feel empowered?

“Strength. When I achieve a strength or fitness goal I’ve set for myself, I feel like I can do anything. Conquering pull-ups under the Fulcrum trainers’ guidance honestly made me feel there is nothing I can’t do.”

“A good run! A sweaty shirt! Being breathless!”

“Being healthy and strong. Having strong female friends to push me, hold me up and carry me when I need it whether that be a laugh or a good cry. Making choices that are hard like getting up at 5am to work out, but reaping the benefits all day long.”

“Feeling like I cannot do one more burpee or push up and then gritting my teeth and doing it anyway.”

5: How do you feel women could be more supported and included in sporting environments?

“Women need to be receiving the same pay as their male counterparts. It is ridiculous to see the pay gap between players on the Thorns and players on the Timbers. On a more individual, accessible level, women need to do a better job supporting, uplifting, encouraging one another in sporting environments. There’s no space for judgment: we’re already judged by the inherent misogyny of society, so there’s no need for more from one another.”

“Teach fundamental strength training in high school gym classes. We all need it as we age.”

“Definitely having more female role models. If I see someone who looks like me doing it, I know I can do it too.”

6: What is something that makes you proud to be a woman?

“Our resilience and fortitude; women are so much stronger than we’re given credit for.”

“The quieter, calmer, and more collaborative leadership of women who have been shaping history for centuries.”

“My sensitive side and being okay with laughing or sneezing and maybe peeing my pants in the process because I carried a beautiful baby boy into this world and my bladder will never be the same.”

“Physical and mental strength, while doing a million other amazing things. Leading organizations and becoming CEOs. Seeing what other women are doing in the world, making a difference. Seeing a woman of color in the White House. Seeing women take up for one another and not letting things happen because it's just the status quo. Talking about things that have not historically been talked about, such as mental health awareness, continued women's rights, including management of our own bodies, and equality.”