More Than Medals: How Women Athletes Are Leading Change
Aarika Gupta
If you look at female athletes today, a powerful force is shaping the future of sport. It isn’t talent, funding, or even training, it’s solidarity. More and more, women in sport are showing that their success isn’t just measured in medals or scores, but in how they uplift each other. These leaders are not necessarily the loudest voices or have the biggest personalities, but they are strong in ways that truly matter.
This spirit of support has become a defining feature of modern women's sports, where the focus is on competing with each other, not against one another. The most powerful way to understand this movement is through the women themselves, and the ways they’ve chosen to show up for one another
One memorable example happened on tennis’ biggest stage. In the 2018 US Open final, Naomi Osaka’s victory over her idol Serena Williams was meant to be a career-defining moment. But it became a media storm after a controversial umpire decision led to an emotional match. As the crowd booed during the trophy presentation, Serena took the spotlight off herself, put her arm around Osaka, and urged the crowd to support the young champion. “I’m so proud of you,” she told her. That moment, between two generations of greatness, wasn’t about tennis; it was about mentorship, dignity, and passing the torch.
Then there is Simone Biles, who withdrew from key Olympic events in 2021 to prioritize her mental health, and she was met with global scrutiny. But within minutes, female athletes, gymnasts, tennis players, and sprinters began posting messages of support.Sunisa Lee, who won gold in Biles’ absence, openly credited her teammate’s honesty with giving her the strength to perform. “She showed us that it’s okay not to be okay,” Lee said. In a world where mental toughness is often mistaken for silence, Biles’ choice, and the response from her peers helped redefine what true strength looks like.
Support goes beyond the field, too. Allyson Felix, the most decorated U.S. track athlete, made headlines when she challenged Nike’s maternity policies, but her greatest legacy may be how she turned that moment into momentum. She co-founded Saysh, a sneaker company made by and for women, and began sponsoring athletes whose contracts didn’t support motherhood. Felix’s choices didn’t just advance her own career, it opened doors for others.
That same spirit of using influence for impact can be seen in Megan Rapinoe. She supports women by being a powerful voice for them, on and off the field. Rapinoe is known not just for her talent in soccer, but for standing up for what’s right, especially when it comes to gender equality. She played a key role in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s fight for equal pay and has always pushed for women to be seen, heard, and valued. Rapinoe has talked about the importance of women supporting each other and dreaming bigger. She also spoke honestly about self-care, saying it’s not a luxury, but something women need to stay strong and keep going. Her message is simple but powerful: believe in yourself, back each other up, and don’t be afraid to take up space.
While the spotlight often shines on big, iconic moments, it’s in the smaller, quieter ones where this movement builds. A senior volleyball player pulling a younger teammate aside after a tough practice. A track athlete offering encouragement to a competitor after a false start. A professional basketball veteran celebrating a rookie’s breakthrough game as though it were her own.
Even in fiercely individual sports like gymnastics or figure skating, the bonds between women are becoming more visible. At major competitions, athletes from different countries embrace, share training tips, and comfort one another after falls or defeats. They understand that, while they may be competing for the same prize, their journeys are shared.
We’re not just witnessing better sport, we’re seeing stronger athletes, healthier teams, and louder, more unified voices. The fiercest athletes today aren’t just racing to the finish line. They’re looking over their shoulders to make sure the next one makes it too. For the girls in the stands, growing up watching these examples of what true leadership looks like, women supporting women, every step of the way. Because in this new era of sport, winning together is the ultimate victory.
"Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons"
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megan_Rapinoe_(May_2019).jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Serena_Williams_2012_Wimbledon.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allyson_Felix_Doha_2015.jpg