Follow us and subscribe
The last year has seen the Netball Super League and Women’s County Cricket become fully professional, Women’s Tennis return to The Queen’s Club, The Lionesses retain European victory, The Red Roses lift the World Cup, and many female athletes break records and smash down barriers. The recent Milano Cortina Winter Olympics achieved the highest gender balance in Winter Olympic history, with 47% female participation, 50 women’s events, and 12 mixed-gender events.
Groundbreaking moments in women’s sport like these give female athletes of all ages and abilities greater visibility, support and access in sport today than ever before.
Yet, whilst there is immense joy and opportunity at the top level, it’s not always easy being a woman in sport. Elite sportswomen continue to feel the effects of sport being stereotypically a man’s world, with less funding, sponsorship, and research into physiology of female athletes. Training and competition require time and often travel, it can be a difficult and lonely journey at times; for the Christian athlete, trusted community and friendships both in and outside of church can be hard to develop and sustain.
We asked sportswomen to share their advice this International Women's Day, this is what they shared...
At Christians in Sport we have the privilege of walking alongside Elite female athletes in a range of sports from cricket to cycling, rugby to rowing. In regular Bible studies we seek to help players navigate how sport and faith connect and create opportunity for encouragement and prayer. Our hope is for these women to stand firm in Christ in the highs and lows: confident of His love and grace with them always, and to know they can worship and serve God in their sport.
“It is such a gift to be able to have this career where I can give my all in sport and to Christ at the same time. I'm excited to see what the Lord’s going to do in the next couple of years.”
England Netballer
“I had a mentor with Christians in Sport when I first moved, and that was absolutely invaluable. We would Zoom every three weeks to chat about sport, faith and life, read the Bible and pray together. It was an absolute lifeline. Connecting with other Christian women in sport to support each other became a highlight of my week.”
RFL Women's Super League & England Rugby League player
In some sports, it is current athletes and players who have initiated times of Bible study and prayer with teammates and opponents; it’s wonderful to hear of several women joining these, finding it a safe space to ask questions on the Bible, faith, life and sport.
“I've been blessed to have Christians in my football club, but as I look at other teams and leagues there aren’t many Christians I know about. I just wanted to connect Christians and see if we can encourage each other, get to know each other and connect our sport and faith in how we play and serve God. And to encourage each other to tell our teammates about Christ.”
Gisela, Former Cambridge United W.F.C. Captain
“Playing elite sport is a joy and privilege but at times it’s been a challenge that has tested my faith and witness. The earlier I’ve laid out my stall and shared my life as a Christian the easier I’ve found opportunities come to talk about Jesus. More often than not, people listen and talk. Sometimes they won’t, and it might be awkward, but you get over it quickly.”
Irish Hockey Olympian
In a world where authenticity is encouraged, many athletes feel able to take the opportunity on social media too, boldly speaking out about their faith in Jesus and the impact that has on them.
The growing digital connection between fans and young aspiring players has empowered many top-level sportswomen to publicly raise important issues within Women’s sport, including body positivity, periods, kit, fertility and diversity. This is inspiring younger women in sport of all abilities, who continue to face barriers to playing. Research by Women In Sport indicates that the "gender dream gap" is at its widest in five years – only 23% of girls, vs 53% of boys, who love sport dream of pursuing it as a career. 45% of girls agree that “people think sport is for boys and doesn’t matter for girls.” And further research from 2022 found that Girls are dropping out of sport by the age of 14 at double the rate of boys, citing the following reasons:
It is against this backdrop, that we count it a significant privilege and responsibility to share not only the gospel with girls at Sports Plus camps each summer, but also to share our lives as women in sport together, to speak of the impact that knowing Him has on our identity, purpose and relationships in Sport.
In a series of seminars last summer on being young women in sport today, girls spoke of the challenge not to compare themselves with other athletes or players - on ability, performance, popularity, looks or body image. Some spoke of often conflicting ,‘impossible’, beauty standards put on them, as well as the challenge of managing periods and the inevitable impact of the menstrual cycle on training and competition. Despite this, there was an overwhelming agreement that the friendships, fun, community and shared experiences built through sport bring deep joy; that the resilience they develop, and the boost to mental and physical health, is like nothing else - often outweighing the challenges. We pray that Sports Plus will increasingly be a context where all girls feel welcome, safe, celebrated and encouraged as young sports women – and that each one would know they are uniquely created by a loving God, and are of infinite worth and value in His sight.
Pressure to ‘perform’ on and off the pitch is not unique to the teenage years, many of the female students and young adults involved in Christians in Sport also share the complexity of navigating sports culture today. Nearly half our university group leaders are female. It’s thrilling to see many Christian women, across a range of individual and team sports, leading the way in challenging preconceptions about Christianity through deep and rich friendships, witnessing for Christ in a compelling, authentic and bold manner.
“As a fresher, I hid my faith and struggled to fit in when I was obviously different, I often skipped socials. It was hard to bond while hiding such a big part of my life. Joining the Christians in Sport group and attending the New Year Training conference encouraged me to be more open. As I shared more of who I am, it was easier to build relationships with my teammates, and they became genuinely interested—something I never expected.”
Sarah, Hockey Player, Dundee University
As we continue together to reach the world of sport for Christ, we are thankful for all the women in sport – grassroots to elite – prayerfully representing Him each week in their clubs. We are thankful for the female team leaders and coaches at Sports Plus each summer who speak of Christ and model to younger athletes what it means to be a Christian woman in Sport. We are thankful for the Mothers, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers who champion and celebrate the achievements of women from the sidelines to the stands. And as the rise of women’s sport continues, we are praying for more opportunities to support Christian female athletes and to share the good news of Jesus: that many would find true freedom and joy as they entrust their Sport to Him.
Laura Murdoch
Laura is based in London as a staff worker and part of the Elite Sport Team supporting female elite & professional athletes. She plays netball and is part of Euston Church.
Lisa Elliott
Lisa is part of the Elite Sports Team supporting female athletes. She plays for Liverpool Sefton Hockey Club and is part of Grace Church Halewood.
Find out more about our work supporting women to live and speak for Jesus in sport at one of our upcoming partner evenings.
Get the perfect start every
A weekly devotional for sports people
