The Pathway Problem - Issue 01
When the Love of Sport isn't Enough
A decade of competitive sport reveals a troubling pattern: too many girls are leaving sports before reaching the elite level, not because they lack talent, but because mounting pressure, appearance standards, and expectations can drain the joy from competition. This article explores how stronger support systems and healthier sporting environments can help girls stay in the sports they love.
I have dedicated more than a decade of my life to my sport. I have trained countless hours, competed under pressure, travelled for competitions, and experienced both the excitement of improvement and the frustration of falling short. I have also watched athletes my age who I’ve grown up with and competed against leave the sport. Some quit because of injuries. Others are simply overwhelmed by pressure. The one thing they all have in common is that they have all stopped enjoying something they once loved.
This makes me wonder: Why do so many girls walk away from sports before reaching the elite level?
When girls first set foot in the world of sports, the experience is thrilling and exciting. It’s an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends, and experience the rewarding sense of pride when they recognize improvement within themselves. But as they venture further into this world, the expectations tend to change. Training becomes more demanding, competing comes with hidden expectations, and the pressure to perform can become overwhelming.
For girls in sports, appearance is a major challenge. Society constantly creates unrealistic expectations about how girls are supposed to look, act, and present themselves at all times. At the same time, athletes are expected to be strong, confident, and competitive. Social media has a way of promoting and shoving these absurd expectations onto young girls, causing them to compare themselves to unrealistic images online. Trying to succeed in sports while also feeling like you have to meet society’s unreachable standards can take away the confidence and enjoyment that sports are supposed to foster.
After more than ten years as a competitive female athlete, I have seen both the challenges and rewards that come with committing to a demanding sport. If we want more girls to make it to the elite level, it is imperative for society to rethink what the pathway to success looks like. Female athletes need understanding coaches and a support system that is able to serve as a firm foundation, especially at the pinnacle of their youth. We need spaces where the inevitable struggles of growing up are normalized rather than seen as failure or falling short.
Every girl should have the opportunity to decide for herself when her journey ends without being influenced by others. The goal should not be centred around simply creating better athletes, but rather to create an environment where girls still love their sport enough to stay.