#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
DOROTHY OKATCH
“Being an African woman, I believe we face many unique obstacles. I want African girls to know and believe that they can achieve success even in fields where they don’t see others who look like them. They can step in and pave the way for many other girls to follow.” - Dorothy Okatch
MARIONA MASDEMONT
“We must stop labeling it differently and start recognising it simply as sport for people with disabilities. This shift in perspective is crucial to breaking down barriers and ensuring that athletes with disabilities receive the same recognition, respect, and opportunities as any other athlete in the industry.” - Mariona Masdemont
SAMANTHA MIYANDA
“Inequality inspired me to get into sport leadership, so that many other young girls would not experience what I did.” - Samantha Miyanda
JULIA FERREIRA GOMES
“I aim to support the active inclusion of gender-diverse athletes and champion gender diversity in sport for development, a goal that strongly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality. I believe that embracing gender diversity is integral to achieving true gender equity.” - Julia Ferreira Gomes
GAME MOTHIBI
“My journey has been challenging, hard, yet incredibly fun and amazing. From being a shy table tennis player and a passionate teacher who left her job with no fall back plan, to pursuing her love for sports, to thriving as a woman in a male-dominated sports administration, I've never stopped pushing forward.” - Game Mothibi
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
LOMBE MWAMBWA
“Be ungovernable in the face of unfair stereotypes or biases wielded to exclude you from a space you wish to be in.” - Lombe Mwambwa
DIANA YONAH
“Through compelling narratives and diverse perspectives, we can challenge traditional gender norms and stereotypes, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and equitable sports environment.” - Diana Yonah
ELIZAVETA BRACHT-TISCHENKO, OLY
“Every woman in the field has a unique story to tell, and it is crucial that these stories are not only heard, but celebrated.” - Elizaveta Bracht-Tischenko, OLY
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.