#HERSTORY
Inspiring Women in Sport
Changing the narrative by amplifying women’s stories in sport.
Women working in sport are shaping sport in powerful ways, on the field, behind the scenes, and in leadership roles across the industry. Yet too often, their stories go unheard, under-represented, or undervalued.
Her Story is a CTN initiative dedicated to spotlighting women working in sport. It shares real experiences, career pathways, and perspectives that reflect the diversity of the sport industry today.
This is about visibility, representation, and ensuring more women can see themselves and their futures in sport.
To nominate an inspirational woman in sport or learn more about the story of #HerStory, checkout the buttons below.
Meet the women changing sport
Her Story features women from across the sport ecosystem. Each story offers insight into the realities of working in sport — the challenges, the opportunities, and the moments that shape a career.
These are real, honest reflections from each woman on what it means to build a life and career in sport.
Field
- Advocacy
- Anti-doping
- Athlete
- Athlete Health
- Brand
- Coaching
- Commentating
- Commercial
- Communications
- Education
- Events
- Governance
- HR
- Health
- Inclusion
- Journalism
- Leadership
- Legal
- Management
- Marketing
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- Officiating
- Operations
- Recruitment
- Research
- Retail
- Safeguarding
- Sponsorship
- Sport Administration
- Sport for Development
- Sustainability
- Technology
- Volunteer
INDIRA DICKHÄUSER
“Sport is a powerful way for us to connect and share our struggles together.” - Indira Dickhäuser
CHAYA MUGHAL
“Coming from a place where women’s cricket wasn’t always encouraged, that moment felt like a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come. It showed me that sport isn’t just about competition — it’s about breaking barriers, shifting mindsets, and proving that dreams have no limits.” - Chaya Mughal
KATIE ROOD
“Everything sports does depends deeply on the environment in which we participate. We must protect and nurture the environment if we want to sustain sports in years to come.” - Katie Rood
JELENA CANKOVIC
“I want to remind others to never forget to have fun along the way, because the joy of the game fuels the passion to keep going. Success is not just about physical strength and skill - it's about being balanced and resilient in mind.” - Jelena Cankovic
RHIAN CLEVERLY
"You don’t have to be the fastest, strongest, or most skillful player, but if you find something you love and push through the tough times, you can achieve something special." - Rhian Cleverly
AVANI NAGAR
“To every little girl or differently abled person who loves sport and is ready to give themselves to it: please, go for it. If you believe you can be the best at something or have the talent, fight for it. Don’t let obstacles hold you back.” - Avani Nagar
DINAR DYAH AYUSTINE
"Very good women become an inspiration in the field of sports. Hopefully we can work and be a good example for the development of sports." - Dinar Dyah Ayustine
SISSI DO AMOR
“There were times I had to pretend to be a boy. I knew there was a law, that we had a President who said girls shouldn’t be playing soccer. I ignored it. Soccer is a game for everyone. It doesn't matter what gender, there is a place for you.” - Sissi do Amor
CAMILA CARVALHO
“I believe that through sports, we can change the lives of many people. It is possible to remain true to our values while being qualified and empathetic leaders capable of making a significant impact in our industry.” - Camila Carvalho, OLY
LISA O’KEEFE
“There isn’t a single person who played a pivotal role in my career, but rather five or six key people who recognised my potential—probably before I did—and gave me opportunities and support, both on and off the rugby pitch. I have tried to do the same for others coming up behind me.” - Lisa O'Keefe MBE
JENNIFER HEIL
"At nine years old, I picked up the 1994 Sports Illustrated Olympic Preview magazine. As I flipped through the pages, I was captivated by images of female athletes practicing their sports with determination and grace. In that moment, I decided I would become an Olympian. Next, I had to find a sport." - Jennifer Heil
TANIA TEOH
“There were many naysayers when I chose to build my career in sports, but I decided to listen to my gut and focus on what I truly believe in: ‘Sports & Myself’. Eventually, the naysayers turned into YAY-sayers.” - Tania Teoh
REBECCA WARDELL
“You don't necessarily have to have studied sport or have been an athlete in order to work in sport. If you're passionate about sport and the benefits it can have in society, then any transferable skills can be applied in the sport industry.” - Rebecca Wardell
ANA JELUSIC, OLY
“Time after time, women have proven that gender is just one piece of the puzzle that makes them who they are. It doesn't set the boundaries for what you can achieve.” - Ana Jelusic, OLY
SOPHIA PAPAMICHALOPOULOS
“There's always a path; you just need the determination and creativity to discover it, and the courage to walk it. Once you reach your destination, you pave the way for other women to follow.” - Sophia Papamichalopoulos
ALYSSA LAGONIA
“I saw women playing football on television. I knew who the players were. I collected all the memorabilia and during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, a decision crystallised within me: I wanted to make playing football my life's pursuit.” - Alyssa Lagonia
NADINE BLANCHARD
“Anything is possible when you know what you want to do, and give yourself the means to achieve it” - Nadine Blanchard
MARGA RICO-JIMÉNEZ
“There is no failure if your objectives were clear, you went for them and you tried your best with the tools that you had at that moment” - Marga Rico-Jiménez
SAMIN ABEDKHOJASTEH
“I believe that if we have a strong reason to believe in ourselves , there is no impossible” - Samin Abedkhojasteh
ZEINA HAMARSHA
“Today there are stories about women in sport that are inspiring not only for female athletes, but also for male athletes.” - Zeina Hamarsha
THE STORY OF #HERSTORY
Herstory is a digital campaign that was created in the lead-up to our Changing the Narrative in Sport Summit in May 2024 in Lausanne. This event focused on “Harnessing the Power of Storytelling for Women’s Sports”. We explored how athletes are portrayed in the media, strategies to enhance their exposure, the role of digital transformation, and ways to overcome bias.
As part of this event, we decided to share the stories of women working in sport. Our goal was simple: to challenge stereotypes, increase representation, and celebrate the achievements of women in sport around the world. We issued a call for nominations on our channels, inviting people to nominate inspirational women in sport. Within 36 hours, we received over 80 nominations, and we knew we were on to something — people want to hear from women in sport.
From March to May 2024, we received 152 nominations and shared the stories of 26 women. To further amplify these women’s stories, we organised an exhibition at our Changing the Narrative event. The response was so positive that we realised HerStory needed to grow beyond a single event.
With the support of England football legend Jill Scott, we opened HerStory to international nominations. Since then, we’ve received nominations for 400+ women across 40+ countries, and we continue to reach out to every woman nominated to see if they would like to share their story and perspective.
We love hearing these stories and learning from these journeys. If you know an inspirational woman working in sport, please nominate her using the button below — thank you for being part of the change.
Get involved
There are many ways to be part of HerStory:
Read & share
Explore the stories and help amplify women’s voices by sharing them within your networks.
Tell your story
If you are a woman working in sport and would like to share your experience, we’d love to hear from you.
Partner with us
We collaborate with organisations that share our commitment to inclusion, representation, and meaningful change in sport.