As a first-time dad, I find myself inspired by the profound joy of my venture into fatherhood. Blessed with a daughter I shall affectionately name Miss Mango; I am awe-struck at her brilliant mind and calm demeanor. Life has an intriguing way of presenting us with unique moments to cherish, moments that serve as stepping-stones on our life journey. The importance of pausing to reflect on these recent experiences should not be overlooked - they arm us with life-enhancing lessons, enabling us to navigate life's hurricanes and peaceful harbors alike.
Following my recently published article, I felt compelled to delve deeper into the history of women's professional sports. This in addition to highlighting more of the awe-inspiring, record-breaking athletic journey of Caitlin Clark who now stands alone as the NCAA basketball scoring leader. The prodigious Clark has and will continue to reset benchmarks in women's basketball, bringing a renewed sense of parity to the game. Impressively, the top five most requested NCAA women's basketball matches have all showcased her performances for the Iowa Hawkeyes according to the ticket marketplace Vivid Seats. Having grown up with a basketball never far from reach, I can attest to tuning into more of Clark's games than I can count in recent past. With match tickets persistently in escalating demand, Clark's considerable influence on young dreamers everywhere is inescapable. Clark's growing dominance aside. For over a century, women in sports have been challenging the status quo, rewriting what's considered possible, and paving the way for generations of future athletes to chase their dreams. Among these trailblazers are Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Didrikson, one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, competed in an environment traditionally reserved for men. As a multi-sport athlete who excelled at basketball, track and field, and golf, she shined at the 1932 Olympics and was a co-founder of the LPGA. Her thirst for sports was paralleled only by her courage in facing cancer, using her personal struggle as a platform to advocate for cancer research. In establishing the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Foundation, she extended her legacy beyond her own lifetime, creating opportunities for young, promising athletes. Following Didrikson's pioneering footsteps, Joyner-Kersee overcame her humble beginnings and a lifelong battle against severe asthma to become one of the greatest heptathletes and long jumpers in history. Winner of multiple Olympic medals and world record setter, Joyner-Kersee's influence extended into community service as well through her Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, working tirelessly to provide resources and opportunities for youth, adults, and families to improve their quality of life. Her story demonstrates that not only dreams but also grit and determination spur us towards greatness. Today, Clark continues this tradition of breaking boundaries and inspiring others. A freshman point guard at the University of Iowa, Clark led the nation in both points and assists per game and has been rewriting the record books with her spectacular performances ever since. Yet, what grips us most is not just her accolades, but her influence on the game. Clark is drawing more attention to women's basketball and inspiring countless young players, which has reflected in the number of sellout crowds and the noticeable excitement she brings to the court. Her story is still in progress, yet she is fundamentally altering the landscape of basketball and contributing meaningfully to her community through various outreach programs. Indeed, these women embody an essential truth: societal constraints and personal tribulations do not define us; it's how we rise above them that counts. They remind us that to truly change the world, one must have not only talent but the will to surpass expectations, the tenacity to conquer adversities, and the humility to help others. In sharing their stories, I hope Miss Mango realizes her potential is limitless. Whether she aims to become a CEO, world-class athlete, scientist, math teacher, or cybersecurity professional, she can look to Didrikson, Joyner-Kersee, and Clark as models of perseverance, grit, and success. As we witness Caitlin Clark's meteoric rise and anticipate her potential as the 2024 WNBA Draft's #1 pick, we're reminded of Michael Jordan's words. "Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Like him, these women persevered. Their legacy lies not just in their historical performances but also in paving the path for future athletes, leaders, and change-makers. They took on societal norms, bravely faced their personal challenges, and each, in her own way, changed the game. Their contributions will undoubtedly inspire Miss Mango and many others to dream big and achieve even greater. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorElliot is a Senior Manager in the Cybersecurity practice at EY where he enables organizations to build in risk thinking from the onset, enhancing global innovation with confidence. He leads global teams to reduce response times and minimize the impact of security incidents by building and operating mature security, logging, monitoring, alerting, and incident response practices. He successfully led response to and recovery from complex security incidents, such as data exposures, third party compromises, and vulnerability exposures, by coordinating across large enterprises through effective incident response procedures to minimize business impact. Archives
March 2024
Categories |