ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, HAS always been home for me, it laid the foundation. Even though my family didn’t have all the things that we probably wanted as far as materialistic items, there was a lot of love in our home, a lot of motivation and a lot of push to be the best that we could be.
When I first started running at the age of 9, I wasn’t one of the best girls. In my first competition, I finished last. But what I loved about it was that it was fun. So I just said to myself: If I can improve a tenth of a second when running, or half of an inch if I was jumping, that meant the work that I was doing was paying off. Eventually, I started thinking that maybe one day I could get some hardware and be on a podium.
But it wasn’t until I was 14, when I saw the’76 Olympic Games on television, that I thought, “Maybe one day I can go there.” We didn’t often see female sports on television. The Olympics gave me that platform to see them and to really broaden my mind. So I went to my coaches, and they said I had potential, but I had to be willing to work hard. That was truly the beginning.
The Impact of Title IX
WE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE of what was about to happen when Title IX was signed into law in 1972. It probably wasn’t until around ’77. I was a sophomore, and we only had one gymnasium at my high school. The boys had the gymnasium at the peak times and girls had to come back in the evening after 6 p.m. to practice. My mother said no to that!
So the coaches went to the administrators and made sure they fully understood the Title IX law, and then we shared the gymnasium. I think of the importance of that, and the magnitude, because you would have probably lost a lot of young ladies from sport just because of that technicality.
この記事は Newsweek Europe の July 01 - 08, 2022 (Double Issue) 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Newsweek Europe の July 01 - 08, 2022 (Double Issue) 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Most Loved Workplaces 2024
THE WORLD'S MOST LOVED WORKPLACES ARE REMARKABLE FOR A variety of reasons.
Maya Hawke
MAYA HAWKE WEARS MANY HATS: ACTOR, WRITER,SINGER. BUT FOR Hawke, everything comes down to words.
Jacob Anderson
ANNE RICE'S NOVEL INTERVIEW WITH THE Vampire has a rabid fan base, intensely protective of the story and any adaptations of it.
VOTES OF NO CONFIDENCE
Why recent U.K. election results will ring alarm bells for Joe Biden
BIDEN'S BATTLEGROUND ELECTION
A small number of Democrats PROTESTING the president's support for Israel's war in Gaza could PREVENT him from winning a second term
'It's Time to Treat Addiction Like Cancer'
Both are serious illnesses but, unlike those struggling with substance use disorders, didn’t face shame and stigma when seeking help over my tumors
Could Influencers Survive a Tik Tok Ban?
With some content creators able to make good money from views and brand collaborations on the app, losing access to it could come ata high price
All Welcome, Except Some
A Chinese foreign agent is behind an Asian American parade in New York City with Mayor Eric Adams, but not everyone is invited
The Invisible Scars Of War
The ongoing conflict with Russia has left 10 million Ukrainians affected by mental health conditions. Now, a community-led program is giving citizens the tools they need to help them overcome their trauma
Navigating New Horizons: Tayca's Tech Innovation
Amidst evolving global markets and demographic shifts, Tayca Corporation harnesses cutting-edge Japanese technology to stay at the forefront, leading in innovation and adapting to changing economic conditions.