International Women’s Day 2025: Elevating female participation and achievement in athletics and running
Inclusivity is a key value for us at England Athletics, as we want to inspire more athletes and runners of all abilities and backgrounds to fulfil their potential. Therefore, this International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate the inspirational women across our sport who are elevating women and girl’s participation and achievement in athletics and running.
There are lots of women in different roles across our sport providing positive role models to inspire the next generation of female athletes. From a young female throws coach to an Olympic champion and a record-breaking ultra runner to a fell runner passing on her knowledge let’s celebrate the work all these women are doing to empower others.
Rebekah Hopper: Inspiring the next generation of female throwers
Rebekah recognised that the lack of younger female throws coaches could be a barrier preventing some girls from getting into or continuing in the sport. She wanted to be the change and help accelerate action by empowering female throwers to enjoy the sport and achieve their potential, so she qualified as a coach.
Learn about Rebekah's coaching journeyFran Blackett: Fell running makes me feel so alive
Many people are intimidated by the navigation skills required to take part in fell running, a barrier that keen fell runner, Fran Blackett, is working to overcome to empower everyone to get involved. Having caught the bug for fell running ten years ago, she has developed lots of skills and is now looking to pass these onto other women to empower them to get into fell running too.
Read Fran's inspiring storyDame Denise Lewis: Finding the lifelong joy of movement
Denise Lewis had an impressive athletics career culminating in an Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Games in Sydney. To achieve at the top level of our sport she had to overcome many challenges and setbacks. Her love for running, however, did not end when she retired from professional sport.
“Even now, as a woman of 50 plus, running, walking, just being in the open space, I think there's so much mental freedom that I still get.”
Find out more about Denise's love of runningLyn Jenkins: the masters runner proving age is just a number
Starting running in her 60s, Lyn has since caught the running bug and now in her 70s, she earned her first England masters vest in November last year.
"When my vest arrived in the post, I thought to myself, 'Is this really true!' I’m in my 70s, how can this be possible? Now I am saying to people, you have got to give it a go. If I can do it anyone can, you just have to give yourself a chance."
Discover Lyn's joy in running later in lifeSophie Power: Record-breaking role model for female runners
At the National Running Show, back in January, Sophie Power broke the record for the longest distance covered on a treadmill in 48 hours. She completed this challenge not only to inspire women to challenge themselves, but also so that more data could be collected on how a woman’s body responds to such a great physical challenge.
“Hopefully, women see me and they’re like I’m thinking about taking on a challenge and going well she is taking it on. And being a bit braver, being brave to fail.”
Hear more about Sophie's record-breaking challengeSnapshot of women’s athletics in 1934
Let’s Delve into the Archive and discover the history of this women’s athletic vest from the 1934 British Empire Games, and the significance for women’s athletics at the competition this vest would have been worn.
Explore the archives