Over the last 50 years, the struggles to achieve equity in sport have become central to the feminist mission. This book contains an inspiring collection of stories from the women on the front lines: athletes, coaches, educators, and activists for women's sport, who have done so much to foster change. Many of the women profiled here reflect on their tough beginnings in sport: being isolated and unconnected, competing in makeshift settings, training alone, and inadequate equipment. But they also reflect on the joy of movement, teamwork, and competition. These women grew to be remarkable role models and helped to dismantle sexism in sport. To read these stories is to swell with pride over their victories, to empathize with their battles with discrimination, and to become re-energized to confront collectively the many hurdles left to clear.

Guylaine Demers is an academic, a key figure in the Quebec movement for women's sport, and a leader in the development of women and sport in Canada. She lives in Quebec City.

Guylaine Demers' profile page

Lorraine Greaves is the Executive Director of the Health System Strategy Division in the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario. She was formerly Executive Director of the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH) and the Director, Women's Health Research Development at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. She is also a Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. Her research focuses on girls` and women's addictions and substance use with a particular interest in substance use during pregnancy and tobacco use among girls and women. As a founding Co-Leader of the WHRN, she lead the development of the surveillance node and produced a gendered data directory tool which will improve access to data sources for researchers interested in advancing women's health in BC.

Lorraine Greaves' profile page

Sandra Kirby is Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Winnipeg and the author of numerous books, including The Dome of Silence: Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport (2000).

Sandra Kirby's profile page

Marion Lay is an Olympic medalist in swimming and a long-time activist for women and sport. She lives in Vancouver.

Marion Lay's profile page