Femininity x Athleticism.

I’ve spent the last four years building myself up for the Olympics and Paralympics. Never did I think a pandemic would strike at the 89th minute, yet here we are. But whilst we wait, World Champion and British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has swapped the track for making strides in the fashion world. As seen in Louis Vuitton’s new Autumn/Winter 2020 campaign, Dina not only looks phenomenal but gives a whole new meaning to sports and fashion. Long gone are the days of oversized kits. Femininity and athleticism are not mutually exclusive and Dina shows how you can carry them both off so effortlessly.

We are Angel City.

As a tennis icon, Serena Williams’ accolades are already impressive enough and undoubtedly put her among the world’s best. The all-time great has joined several other high-profile women in funding a new Los Angeles-based women’s football team to launch in time for the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League season, taking a new approach to football club ownership. The team name and home stadium venue haven’t been decided as of yet, but if the owners are calling themselves ‘Angel City’, I am expecting a lot and this might just test my loyalties. Plus with her 2-year-old daughter, Olympia, listed as a co-owner, where do we sign up to join?

Home Games.

10 years on from London 2012 and we can celebrate with the start of another international games in Birmingham. With two years to go until the start of the Commonwealth games, Team England will be looking to top their tally of 131 medals from the previous games held in Australia. England netball will be seeking to defend their Commonwealth Gold that also earned them Sports Personality Moment of the Year and Team of the Year. If you haven’t watched that nail-biting winning goal from Helen Housby, I recommend going back to see how she had the nation on the edge of their seats. More of this in 2022 please!

Black Lives Still Matter.

Racism has no place in society and black lives still matter. The BLM movement has rightfully called upon the equal treatment of black people and to put an end to systemic racism. Athletes all over the world have taken a knee in support of the movement, but has sport now moved on? Thankfully not. As social media feeds return to normal and news outlets move on, players from the Scottish Premiership will take the knee ahead of their opening fixtures. The Scottish league has come out to say that education is at the heart of its efforts to eradicate the scourge of racism in our society. Of course, a lot more needs to be done, but recognising the strides of work being done on and off the pitch remains equally important.

That’s the Tea.

Megan Rapinoe’s legacy off the pitch will far outweigh all of her incredible achievements with the USWNT (which already include two World Cups and one Olympic gold medal, so that takes some beating). ‘Seeing America With Megan Rapinoe’ on HBO Sports will provide a platform for the iconic star athlete to host conversations around race and equality in America, as well as the upcoming presidential election (no prizes for guessing who she’s not voting for). Not only is she a baller that ended England’s dream of winning the World Cup (we still remember), Rapinoe has never been shy in her fight for equality and often lends her platform to other activists to further relay the message on equality and diversity. She’s a credit to her sport, her beliefs and her much-deserved fans, so long may her success continue.

Refugees Make Our Society.

Speaking seven languages fluently, training to be surgeon, and she’s a professional footballer; Nadia Nadim is not short on any form of talent. However, her start to life wasn’t easy. Nadim fled Afghanistan with her mother and four sisters aged 10 due to the war. Her father was killed by the Taliban and they were smuggled to Denmark. It was here where she discovered girls playing football and was able to shake off her mindset that girls cannot participate in sports. Growing up, seeing a Muslim woman in sport seemed like a dream, but Nadim living that reality is an inspiration. And she certainly hasn’t forgotten her past, as her internal need to help people is unmistakable and unmatched. She is an ambassador for the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and has visited numerous refugee camps across the world to share her stories and inspire others.