<\/p>\n
If you look up the definition of \u201cshape,\u201d the following words come up; \u201cexternal form, contours, or outline of someone or something.\u201d When I looked up the word \u201cAthletic,\u201d \u201cphysically strong, fit, and active\u201d are the words that are used.<\/p>\n
The two definitions do not include weight or clothing size. Instead, the words I focus on are \u201cfit\u201d and \u201cactive.\u201d To me, an athlete is not an athlete because they look a certain way. Instead, I believe what makes someone athletic is hard work and dedication. An athlete has a drive and passion that they pour into their craft and are willing to push their own physical and mental boundaries.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s society, I\u2019ve witnessed and experienced that too much emphasis is placed on an athlete\u2019s appearance. Especially for female athletes. So, how do we change this and make it more about women\u2019s athletic ability? Today, with more attention on women\u2019s sports, we need to ensure we spotlight the athlete\u2019s talent and ability. Body shaming or focusing on the appearance of an athlete\u2019s body should have no place in the culture we are trying to build for women in sports. It\u2019s toxic and mentally damaging.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s prioritize the focus on not just talent and ability but on the athlete\u2019s training, nutrition, strength, mentality, and recovery. These are what are essential to an athlete\u2019s performance. When we don\u2019t, the consequences are often great and discovered too late. Words and the emphasis placed on them can be powerful tools, and in situations where they are used negatively, like body and weight shaming, they are weapons of mass destruction.<\/p>\n
My genetics have me destined to be a pretty solid, tall female athlete. With my mom being 5\u201910\u201d, dad standing at 6\u20193\u2033, and grandparents, aunts, and uncles all standing on average at 6 feet, the odds of being the \u201cbig\u201d girl were high. The word \u201cbig,\u201d though, had a different identity for me than for others.<\/p>\n
Growing up, I was honestly thrilled to be the tallest girl in the class or on the team. My family was athletic too, and the hope was that I would fare well in sports too. As I got older and started to fill out, I worked out regularly at my local gym and became quite muscular. As a goalkeeper, this helps me with the needed power and momentum that is required to push me across the goal.<\/p>\n
When I started to increase my daily workouts and training, I began to get comments regarding my body weight. People started to assume I was a goalkeeper when I shared that I played soccer. Often this is followed up with a stereotype of what a field player\u2019s ability and look should be versus a keeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so big,\u201d \u201cyou must be a keeper,\u201d \u201ckeepers don\u2019t have to run much, right?\u201d I politely educate them that goalkeepers have to run a lot more than they think. Keepers have to be physically fit, as our roles require a lot of agility, speed, and endurance. Being in conversations like this is slightly discouraging and disheartening; however, if they\u2019ve never been involved in sports, I try to brush it off. When athletes, coaches, trainers, or media make assumptions or body and weight shame athletes, they should know better.<\/p>\n
I had an incident recently regarding my size through social media. It took me by surprise and initially got me thinking about changing myself to fit society\u2019s mold of what they perceive an athlete should look like. Luckily, I paused this destructive thinking after my club coach, a fellow goalkeeper, and a former US women\u2019s 1999 goalkeeper and owner of Dynasty goalkeeper immediately noticed. They stepped in after seeing this on social media.<\/p>\n