By: Alvin Xu

The number of women that are participating in sports increased very quickly since covid began, about 200,000 females started skateboarding and surfing! Women participating in basketball grew the fastest. In 2 years, there were 219,000 more participants.

Women also enjoy playing other sports! For example, football grew by 196,000 more participants. Volleyball grew by 121,000 more participants, and cricket grew by 102,000 more participants in 2 years.

Ella Smit is a 17-year-old from Gippsland, and she really likes skateboarding. She was inspired by watching professional players skateboarding. One of the people she watched was a 14-year-old named Sky Brown from Britain. She watched her skateboarding at the Olympics. Ella thought she was really cool! “I saw girls skating and doing tricks on TV and YouTube and wanted to give it a go!” Ella said. Ella’s mother, Gabby Smit, always encouraged Ella to participate in any sport she enjoys.

Bernard Griffiths is the president of the Victorian Skateboarding Association. He said that “It’s great for young people and girls to have role models out there. Parents are also more interested in getting their kids coached now it’s seen as a legitimate sport.” According to him, females participating in sports are growing every year. Women were most active in physical exercise compared to all activities!

Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658073627041x879377176125171600/Girls%20surfing%20new%20wave%20of%20sports%20_%20KidsNews.pdf