I imagine you’d be living under a rock if you hadn’t heard about the Sweeny sports betting site ad debacle. The huge backlash from women athletes was a beautiful thing to behold. Unfortunately, all that attention only seemed to benefit the betting app and did little to help women in sport.
For those not aware, this ad essentially showed a “famous” (I really have no idea who she is; people tell me she’s famous, I wouldn’t know) actress naked, with strategically placed sports equipment for her to hide behind. All to encourage men to bet on sports. And of course, that part worked. But her selling out the sisterhood to, yet again, make everything about women male-centred just added to this never-ending battle.
So real athletes around the world posted amazing footage of themselves and others doing crazy physical feats in sport—all kinds of sports. It was inspiring and beautiful, and those women are all queens.
As a woman who spends a rather shocking amount of time on my bike alone, I can’t tell you the many times I have been bothered, harassed, and even threatened by men while out on my bike. From the man rolling up, deciding he’s going to ride with me without asking, and insisting we go out for a drink sometime, to men on motorcycles or in cars slowly following me for long distances, likely enjoying the fear they instill. It’s brutal that in this day and age, women are still not equal citizens on this planet; living with fear is just part of being a woman.
But we can’t let fear steal our freedom. I just read a study about how cycling (as little as 20 minutes at a time, but with regularity) can impact the risk of dementia. Rates of 19% reduction for dementia and up to 22% for Alzheimer’s. I know how good it is for my stress levels, for my happiness, and for my body, and this information just makes me want to keep turning over the pedals.
So, a huge shout-out to all those queens out there living their best lives, being strong, brave, and healthy, and doing sport despite the hundreds of obstacles. You are amazing.
