Latest news with #femaleathletes
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas followed and heckled by gambler at Grand Slam Track meet
Three-times Olympic champion Gabby Thomas said she was verbally abused at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia last weekend, the latest incident of harassment she has reported this year. Thomas, who won gold in the 200m, and 4x100m and 4x400m relays in Paris, said in a post on X that a man followed her around the track shouting insults while she was taking photographs with fans and signing autographs. 'Anybody who enables him online is gross,' wrote Thomas. Thomas's post was in response to another on X which contained a video of a person heckling Thomas while she was on the starting line, shouting 'you're a choke artist – you're going down, Gabby'. 'I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win,' the social media user wrote, with a screenshot of two multi-leg bets on the FanDuel sportsbook platform. Grand Slam Track did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Thomas was catapulted to mainstream fame after her breakout performance in Paris, gracing the cover of American Vogue and appearing on US talk shows. But Thomas has also suffered the darker side of fame, describing on TikTok this year how she was stalked by a group of men at several airports, as social media gives female athletes greater exposure. The incident at Grand Slam Track also reflected a growing link between sports betting and harassment, with female tennis players including Caroline Garcia pointing to 'unhealthy betting' as a culprit. 'Thank you for pointing out this disgusting behavior,' retired former world 10,000 metres silver medallist and NBC Sports commentator Kara Goucher wrote on X. 'You are exposing the crap that women go through and will eventually help other women as well.'
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Gold medallist Thomas harassed by bettor at Grand Slam Track
NEW YORK :Three-times Olympic gold medallist Gabby Thomas said she was verbally abused at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia last weekend, the latest incident of harassment the American has reported this year. Thomas, who won gold in the 200 metres, and 4x100m and 4x400m relays in Paris, said in a post on X that a man followed her around the track while she took pictures for fans and signed autographs, shouting personal insults at her. "Anybody who enables him online is gross," wrote Thomas. Thomas' post was in response to another on X which contained a video of a person heckling Thomas while she was on the starting line, shouting "you're a choke artist - you're going down, Gabby". "I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win," the social media user wrote, with a screenshot of two multi-leg bets on the FanDuel sportsbook platform. Grand Slam Track did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One of American track's brightest stars, Thomas catapulted to mainstream fame after her breakout performance in Paris, gracing the cover of American "Vogue" magazine and appearing on U.S. talk shows. But Thomas has also suffered the darker side of fame, describing on TikTok this year how she was stalked by a group of men at several airports, as social media gives female athletes greater exposure. The incident at Grand Slam Track also reflected a growing link between sports betting and harassment, with female tennis players including Caroline Garcia pointing to "unhealthy betting" as a key culprit. Major tennis governing bodies moved to combat online abuse published last year a report that attributed nearly half of abusive social media posts to angry gamblers.
Reuters
a day ago
- Health
- Reuters
Gold medallist Thomas harassed by bettor at Grand Slam Track
NEW YORK, June 2 (Reuters) - Three-times Olympic gold medallist Gabby Thomas said she was verbally abused at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia last weekend, the latest incident of harassment the American has reported this year. Thomas, who won gold in the 200 metres, and 4x100m and 4x400m relays in Paris, said in a post on X that a man followed her around the track while she took pictures for fans and signed autographs, shouting personal insults at her. "Anybody who enables him online is gross," wrote Thomas, opens new tab. Thomas' post was in response to another, opens new tab on X which contained a video of a person heckling Thomas while she was on the starting line, shouting "you're a choke artist - you're going down, Gabby". "I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win," the social media user wrote, with a screenshot of two multi-leg bets on the FanDuel sportsbook platform. Grand Slam Track did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One of American track's brightest stars, Thomas catapulted to mainstream fame after her breakout performance in Paris, gracing the cover of American "Vogue" magazine and appearing on U.S. talk shows. But Thomas has also suffered the darker side of fame, describing on TikTok this year how she was stalked by a group of men at several airports, as social media gives female athletes greater exposure. The incident at Grand Slam Track also reflected a growing link between sports betting and harassment, with female tennis players including Caroline Garcia pointing to "unhealthy betting" as a key culprit. Major tennis governing bodies moved to combat online abuse published last year a report that attributed nearly half of abusive social media posts to angry gamblers. "Thank you for pointing out this disgusting behavior," retired former world 10,000 metres silver medallist and NBC Sports commentator Kara Goucher, opens new tab wrote on X. "You are exposing the crap that women go through and will eventually help other women as well."
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Minnesota softball player, parent speak out as trans pitcher dominates postseason
Minnesota's high school softball postseason has been overshadowed by the dominance of a transgender pitcher at Champlin Park High School. The pitcher led Champlin Park to the state tournament with a dominant shutout victory in the sectional final on Thursday. Meanwhile, a lawsuit by three anonymous female players has been filed against the state for allowing the player to compete. The law firm representing the plaintiffs, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), has provided statements from one of the female players about her experience facing the trans athlete. "Hitting against him is not only a physical challenge but a mental, too. It's a mental battle knowing that he has an advantage in the sport that I grew up playing, making it hard to even want to hit against him. His ability to get outs and spin the ball is a strong advantage, but like I said it's also incredibly mentally challenging knowing that you're competing against someone who has unfair advantages leaving you with little to no confidence," the player said. "This issue has affected me in ways that I never imagined. It's simply unfair and I hate that nothing is happening to change that. Boys should not be able to take girls spots on teams just because they are capable of doing so. I hope that more girls affected by this issue will stand up against this." The anonymous player also called out Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for aggressively defending trans inclusion in girls' sports in the state. Ellison has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice over Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. "It's really upsetting to know that [Ellison] isn't taking rights of girls and women seriously. He is allowing boys to compete with girls, and it is not safe and completely unfair. To know that AG Ellison is in complete support of letting boys and men take advantage of females in sports is absolutely disgusting and wrong," the player added. A local Minnesota parent of another player who had to face the athlete spoke out about the situation during an interview on OutKick's "The Ricky Cobb Show." "It really comes down to cowardice leadership at the local state and federal level," said Garret Gross, the father of a local player. "Softball is different man, I'm telling you, these girls are strong, these girls are tough, but they're different than boys. At the highest levels, that ball is coming in 70-plus miles an hour from the pitcher's circle, which is only 43 feet away, and it's coming off that bat 80–85 miles an hour, and it's not question of if or when there will be a catastrophic injury or death that occurs because of this imbalance. The only question really is, is how old will the girl be that's killed and what will her name be? "That's a strong statement, but that's where it's going to get to and that's going to be really the only thing that's going to make the public wake up here, and the question to all the apathetic people on the sidelines, why are you keeping quiet when we know this is going to happen?" Champlin Park's school district provided a statement to Fox News Digital defending the decision to allow the athlete to compete on the softball team. "Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law. Due to data privacy laws, the District is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student athlete," a statement from the Anoka-Hennepin School District stated. "In addition, the District is named in an active lawsuit which limits what information can be shared." After Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, the Minnesota State High School League announced it would defy federal law by allowing transgender athletes to continue playing in women's sports. Ellison then claimed at a press conference on April 22 that he received notice from the Department of Justice threatening legal action if the state did not follow the executive order, so the AG decided to sue first. The White House later responded to the lawsuit, condemning Ellison for taking legal action to enable trans inclusion. "Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow other biological males to participate in women's sports? This is creepy and anti-woman," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital. Minnesota's state legislature failed to pass the "Preserving Girls' Sports Act" in early March, which would have stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
My Little Pony and inspiring the next generation: Is the marketing of women's sport falling short?
What do you picture when you think of women's sport? You might see excited young women holding homemade signs, a family-friendly crowd, or role models on the field creating a better future for women. In a domain that has traditionally excluded women, whether as players, spectators or administrators, women's sport is claiming space. Deloitte predicts that in 2025, sponsors of Australian women's sports teams will see a 75 per cent higher return on every dollar invested compared to sponsors of men's teams. But are elite women's sports selling themselves short when it comes to marketing? In a 2024 study, researchers interviewed more than 100 English and American fans who attended the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup about their perceptions of women footballers as role models. While many fans praised the athletes for their accessibility, selflessness and being relatable, some felt this angle devalued women's athleticism and competitiveness. The researchers worried that this perspective inadvertently puts pressure on women athletes, on top of their day jobs, to motivate the "next generation" who will reap the rewards of professionalisation. They believed this takes the responsibility off those who hold the power to make change to improve conditions now, like clubs, leagues and the media. The research found that this cultural narrative was propelled by athletes, sport organisations and corporate sponsors alike. In Channel Nine's recent documentary charting the rise of Women's State of Origin, Breakthrough, Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'Landys called women's rugby league players inspirational. "I'm proud of what they do in the communities, I'm proud that they juggle jobs, family and playing," he said. "We want to use them as much as we can to inspire the future." Jess Richards, a senior lecturer in sports management at Western Sydney University, is concerned about a sole focus on women's sport as inspirational for girls and young women. "That all comes down to clubs and organisations all over the country improving the fan engagement," Dr Richards said. "Female empowerment is very important. But I think sometimes it can actually overshadow the athletic ability of these players … their competitive nature, aggression and those types of things. "Media coverage has really highlighted women's sport as primarily this vehicle for social change, and I think that draws attention away from the athleticism of the players." AusPlay data from 2023 shows more than 600,000 Australians aged 15 and over play netball annually. It's a sport broadly accepted as a fun and social way to keep fit. And while just under 14 per cent of that participation comes from men, it's a fast-growing sector of the sport. The major sponsorship of the elite national netball competition is "Team Girls", a partnership focused on keeping girls playing sport. Demonstrating the positives of team sport, like making friends and learning life skills like resilience, it aims to "support every girl's endgame". Since 2021, Netball Australia has also partnered with toy brand My Little Pony, encouraging children through its junior program NetSetGo to "find their sparkle" and be proud of their individuality. While these are meaningful inclusion initiatives, combined they could suggest to adult fans that the professional sport they're following is predominantly for children. Take a passing look at the Matildas' Instagram page and you'll find an emphasis on girls — fans on game day and at training holding signs seeking selfies and match-worn uniforms. You'd be forgiven for forgetting the diverse fanbase the Tillies have developed across Australia, particularly since they hosted the Women's World Cup in 2023. Carleigh Yeomans, a lecturer in sports management at Swinburne University of Technology, says engaging girls in sport is important so they can imagine themselves participating. Numerous studies have shown the high drop-out rates of girls in sport, with some suggesting up to 50 per cent stop playing by the time they turn 17. "We want them to get the mental and physical health benefits," Dr Yeomans said. "We need to be able to carry them through that 13 to 16-year-old drop in participation so that [their participation] can be sustained." Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ The perception of women athletes as role models is reinforced by the ongoing marketing of women's sport as family-friendly. "We want to make sure our marketing is highlighting the skill, the competition, the toughness that comes with women's sport just like it does with men's," Dr Yeomans said. Dr Richards agrees. In 2021, she co-authored a study of the Sydney Sixers Women's Big Bash League games, which found that the contrast in marketing with men's matches contributed to their atmosphere. Men's games were portrayed as a battle between rivals, while women's games were marketed as "cheap and enjoyable family days out." This framing, Dr Richards says, "may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes in a way that [suggests] girls need a softer approach. It subtly implies that they're not suited to competitive, intense environments." "I don't understand why we only just focus on the women's team when we talk about creating safe and inclusive spaces, because every sports game in any code in Australia should be a safe place for people to go and watch sport." In April, UK-based broadcaster Sky Sports released a study on women's sport fandom in the United Kingdom. Surveying more than 2,500 fans across age groups and sports, it found that women's sport's dominant audience is actually fans who follow both men's and women's sport, with 80 per cent of UK sports fans interested in at least one of each. According to the report, their fandom is driven by passion for the sport and its skill and achievement — not the gender of who's playing. Yet, only 1 in 2 women's sport fans thought analysis content on women's sport was easy to find, in comparison to more than two-thirds of men's sport fans accessing the same content. The report concludes that women's sports should deepen their engagement with these existing fans for commercial value by spotlighting individual athletes and their successes, rather than focusing exclusively on attracting new fans or fans of women's sport only. It takes concerted effort to shift away from a dominant narrative, but Dr Richards and Dr Yeomans agree that it comes back to concentrating on game play. Dr Richards points to the Women's State of Origin ads in 2024 that showed the athletes tackling and visibly sweating, in contrast to previous years' marketing. "We're still uncomfortable watching women sweat, bleed, and bruise," she says. "I think there's certainly been progress in this space around the way that we market women's sport, [as] not just something that women should have an opportunity to have a try [at]… it is a physical competition." Dr Yeomans was pleased to see Cricket Australia engage women and men in the same marketing campaigns last summer, and highlighted the increase in game play in AFLW promotional material. "[They're promoting it as] a contest as opposed to a player standing there and smiling. And I think that's an important transition to make because we want it to be comparable from a competitive landscape." Finally, another starting principle is not to expect everyone of the same gender to like the same things. "Women and girls sometimes are still viewed as a homogenous audience, like they're all the same," Dr Yeomans says. "We need to get a little more specific about what that target audience is." ABC Sport is partnering with Siren Sport to elevate the coverage of Australian women in sport. Danielle Croci is a policy officer and freelance writer and podcaster specialising in women's sport.
