Book Review: 50 Women in Sport
We review the book, 50 Women in Sport by Jean Williams and Gemma Lumsdaine
For obvious reasons, we love sports books here at The Sporting Blog.
Most of them, however, tend to be biographies that appear in the Waterstones window on the retirement of a well-known footballer, cricketer or someone else who needs a few quid to top up the pension.
Kate Shortiman & Izzy Thorpe - just 2 of the amazing female athletes profiled in the book
I must confess that most of this ilk tend to be male-dominated. That might be the way I look for things, or it might be unfair of me to say, but that’s just how I feel it is.
I can remember Jordan Henderson bringing one out even though he’s still playing and I’m not sure how many Sir Alex Ferguson has now, but enough for LadBible to get paid to do a promo with him and Gary Neville.
So it was with interest that I opened the pages of ‘50 Women in Sport’.
My kind of format
I have an active mind. Some might say a little too active. So the format of the book is ideal for me. I can dip into it or choose who I want to read about. I’ll explain.
The book is a great example of a ‘Ronseal’ title - it does what it says on the tin.
As it describes, it is a book about women in sport. Some are profiles and some are interviews with sporting heroines in their own words. I like these in particular.
The Opening Chapter
I love this section on early pioneers in women’s sport, told by Jean Williams. There is so much we don’t know or take for granted in terms of ‘what went before’, this was a sobering section in that regard.
As the founder of this blog, it also made me shamefully realise that we do not have anywhere near enough women’s sport content, nor writers. This is not for lack of trying in terms of the later, where are all the young female sports writers? Let us know!
A brief history of female participation in sport is followed by name-checking the likes of Fanny Blankers Koen and Lottie Dod. Again, I can’t believe I don’t have profiles of these people on this website - I’ll be getting on to that.
Post War
Jean follows up with a summary of growth and development in women’s sport post war, which again is a reminder to us all of just how far we’ve come in the last 60-70 years. I hope amongst other things that this book acts as a source of inspiration to young female athletes when they read these early chapters.
The role models we will hear from late on are one thing, but the blood, sweat and tears that built the platform for their success should not be undervalued.
Pioneers and Legends
Following a short chapter on successful female Paralympians, we get into the guts of the book with some incredible profiles of female Olympic sporting legends like Serena Williams and Dame Laura Kenny.
I loved reading these profiles. Sometimes a summary of an amazing career puts into perspective the achievements of the person in question. I think it’s easy to look at Williams racking up title after title and take it all for granted, but when you see it written down… wow.
Interviews with Sportswomen from around the world
My personal favourite part of the book. I read these as and when I feel like a quick read, and I personally love the interview format.
I really enjoyed in particular the interview with Curling legend Eve Muirhead. This person that I had seen on TV every 4 years during the Winter Olympics suddenly was turned into a human with interests off the ice. Who knew she was a competitive bagpiper!
Even Muirhead - Profile in ‘50 Women in Sport’
There are also interviews with lesser-known names, which are no less in interest. I was stunned to read about Bianca Smith of the Boston Red Sox.
As an avid baseball and Red Sox fan, I was surprised I hadn’t heard of this upcoming 29-year-old coach before. So I was really stoked to read about a female coach in the Major Leagues, and long may that continue.
There is also a nice piece with Gabby Logan, who UK readers will know well from presenting sport on TV. I’ve known Gabby on my TV as long as I can remember, so again, nice to put a bit more colour to a familiar face.
In conclusion
50 Women in Sport is the sort of book I love. Consumable, interesting, well put together and in many ways inspirational. It has given me the impetus to recruit more female writers, as well as run more features on women’s sport in general.
A great gift for any sports fan but maybe especially apt for young aspiring female sporting participants. It’s a real dose of inspiration.
I’d highly recommend the book to anyone.
