Those who know me are well aware of my love of live events and especially concerts and musicals. I love the theatrics, the costumes, the soundtracks. Something beautiful comes together on the stage in that very moment of storytelling that makes the characters come alive through the music and the shared experience.
I’ve never really found the same love for sports, though. Don’t get me wrong, put me in a live audience and I’m cheering with the best of them! But I don’t follow a specific team and I’m not a sports fanatic. I’ve always felt a little removed from sports and the athletes seemed a little impersonal to me. It’s a storyline I just can’t follow with a lot of excitement or connection.
Lately, that seems to be changing.
With the spotlight on women’s sports, I’m finding myself connected with the athletes. I’m following their stories, their rises through the ranks, their funny commentaries on social media about themselves and their teammates. I’m listening to these women talk during interviews about topics that are important to me: challenges they face, uplifting one another, finding their own stories and who they truly are. Somehow, through all of these interactions, I have gained a renewed interest in sports.
It wasn’t the shared identity or interest in sports that finally got me to remember the names of professional athletes or put the game on TV. It was that I saw a shared experience, the same struggles that many of us have: being questioned about talent, setting boundaries, trying to balance careers, mental health, and being true to ourselves. Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles stepping away from their careers to take care of themselves and their health. Alysia Liu drawing boundaries and defining herself in her own way. Ilona Maher championing body positivity. Their journeys helped my lived experience as a woman feel a little more familiar, a little more seen. In their stories I saw humanity and a reminder that representation isn’t just about who we see, but what parts of ourselves we recognize in others.
The books, the stories we share with students in schools might echo the same way. Flashes where students might see themselves represented through common experiences, emotions, and challenges. Instances where children might recognize their own stories and respond with a quiet, “hey, me too.” This is exactly why representation matters: when students see reflections of their identities, they feel less alone and a little more understood. These connections can cultivate compassion, confidence and even a feeling of community.
I still don’t identify as an athlete and it’s pretty unlikely that I will ever willingly join a sports team. But you will find me following some incredible athletes on social media and liking all their posts. I’ll still be cheering loudly and boldly at any live sporting event I’m attending. Perhaps, though, I’ll be a little bit louder for the women with a voice that is cheering for their power, their resistance, their continued pursuit of excellence. This representation feels personal; their presence feels like a win for anyone who’s ever been underestimated or whose struggles felt unseen. When I look at sports through this lens, it would seem we’re no longer in competition with each other. Instead, we’re all on the same team.
