Gender equality in sport.

I don't consider myself a feminist, but my blood boils when I watch the tennis. Where is the gender equality in sport?

At tournaments like Wimbledon, prize money for female players is now on par with their male counterparts, which is positive, however we, as a society, still submit to a belief that Women have less stamina and less athletic ability to play the same 5-set match that the men play. Instead, Women play best of 3 and are supposed to be grateful that the money is the same, because, for them, it's a better financial arrangement. Where is equality in tennis?

Then there is swimming. Another sport where women are believed to lack stamina and endurance. Where men race in the prestigious 1500m, the maximum length available to their female counterparts is 800m. That's a fraction over half the distance the male athletes can manage. Why don't we change this? It seems easy enough to add in a 1500m event for women. But no. World Aquatics remain staunch on Women racing the 800m and men racing 1500m.

Lots of sacrifice goes into being an elite athlete, and trust me, they aren't getting up at sparrows every day to train until the sun goes down because of the prize money. They love their sport and are committed to being the best, regardless of gender.

I recall Martina Hingis having a hit with Andre Agassi back in the day when she was the world's greatest female player. The Tennis community felt that she was so good she might even stack up against a man. How insulting, anyway, she didn't turn down the chance to have a hit with the best player in the world. She was a champion. She didn't win, but she believed she could. She wasn't going to let gender hold her back.

Being the best at Grand Slam Tennis is best of 5. Not best of 3.

Do the men that make the calls from the International Tennis Federation and World Aquatics hear the female athletes calling for equality? No female player is on the side of a 3-set match, nor do the female swimmers believe that 1500m is too far for them to swim. These women are all champions. They are committed to being the best. We need to give them that opportunity.

Image credit: Eurosport

Historically, a 5-set female format has been trialed and women have played best-of-5 in the championship match of the WTA Tour Finals (effectively the year’s 5th major) from 1984 to 1998.

1990 runner-up Anke Huber said “everybody among the women can do it”.

It actually makes me feel sick in the stomach. Female champions feeling the need to rationalise their athletic ability, they are obliged to prove their endurance and stamina, to who? Because the men at the top don't seem to be listening,

With Tennis being one of the first LGBTQIA+ friendly sports due to champion uber dykes like Martina Navratilova always playing as their authentic selves, it's surprising that the International Tennis Federation has let sports like soccer fly ahead of them in terms of fairness and equality.

I shouldn't be writing this article. This topic shouldn't be debated in the public arena. It's a no brainer. The people at the top calling the shots in women's sport, need to feel shame and embarrassment for not addressing this issue and remedying it immediately. They must offer an epic apology to the female champions of the past that have had their ability gendered. In the age of the gender-neutral bathrooms, how can this conversation be something anyone tolerates.

PPft.

Glenn Hall is a former advertising executive turned freelance communications consultant. Glenn has a fresh perspective on topical issues and a unique way of viewing the world.   With diverse interests, no topic is out of reach and Glenn will be sure to challenge your thinking.