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?

What about Golf? It's laughable, really, but women's courses are a fraction shorter than men's courses. All golf courses around the world mark out where the men should start from, and a few feet away are the marks for the women. It's literally a few big steps from the men's starting point. All it does is make women feel inferior, as the advantage is minuscule. Why hasn't someone addressed this? I know, because the men at the top of the Golfers Federation couldn't give two shits about women's rights or equality. It's probably something that has never been on the agenda at a board meeting. I bet their wives all play golf, though. You would hope that people would think beyond themselves from time to time, but just like selfish angel Marijka, most people walk around with tunnel vision.

Then there is swimming, a sport that finally got its shit together. Until recently, it was a sport where women were believed to lack stamina and endurance. Where men would race in the prestigious 1500m, the maximum length available to their female counterparts was 800m. That's a fraction over half the distance the male athletes could manage. How many years did it take to change this? They eventually added in a 1500m event for women, and guess what? The female athleates managed to swim the entire distance of the pool.

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.

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.