Emma Hayes, winning Gold with USA Women’s Football Team after only 75 days in charge.
To quote the brilliant British journalist Molly McElwee; The ‘most gender-equal Olympics in history’ was a disaster for women. As it turns out, there was not a 50 / 50 split of male and female athletes, but a 51/49 split. There were 157 medal events available for the men, and only 152 medal events available for the women.
Away from the stats, the IOC and some of it’s International Federations found it appropriate to allow a convicted pedophile to play in the Beach Volleyball Tournament, give out a coach accreditation to a man who is currently being sued for ‘allegedly’ raping an athlete and “elsewhere horrific abuse has been levelled in the direction of two women boxers that, through no fault of their own, have been embroiled in a toxic gender debate.” (Quote from Molly McElwee article)
The increase of female coaches was also a big failure. As reported by the Female Coaching Network, Team GB had less female coaches on their team than in Tokyo 2020, despite funding body UK Sport stating they had made improvements. Across the Games, the Team Sports (football, basketball, handball, hockey, rugby, volleyball and waterpolo) had less female Head Coaches than in Tokyo 2020 and the percentage of female coaches at the Paris Olympics is reportedly less than 23% overall (official stats yet to be released).
So whilst we did not see a gender-equal games, what we did see where some incredible stories, performances and achievements from women coaches despite the barriers, hurdles and glass-ceilings they have fought through to get there.
One example of this is the FCN x WHOOP | Preparation for Paris group of 52 coaches who facilitated an impressive total of 31 medals; 9 gold, 12 silver, and 10 bronze. Notably, many of these 52 coaches have yet to compete in Paris, as they are preparing for the upcoming Paralympic Games.
