50 Women in Sport
50 Women in Sport is a full colour hardback book packed full of photographs which tells the story of the female pioneers and legends who carved a place for women in sport and fought to succeed at the highest level in their chosen field.
The book includes 25 profiles of women who have smashed conventions to achieve their ambitions alongside more than 25 exclusive interviews with up-and-coming talent and established names.
2022 has been a watershed year for women’s sport with World Cups in Rugby and Cricket, England hosting the FIFA Euro Football tournament, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and more attention and commercial investment than ever before.
Yet for generations, women were discouraged from taking part in sport and side-lined as the ‘weaker sex’. 50 Women in Sport tells the story of the female trailblazers who demonstrated grit and determination to defy the conventions of their time, to break records and challenge stereotypes.
The book includes full profiles of some of our sporting icons, namely Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Simone Biles, Tracy Edwards, Saina Nehwal, Billie Jean King, Lisa Leslie, Jayne Torvill, Althea Gibson, Ellen MacArthur, Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee, and many more.
It celebrates the diversity of today’s sporting talent with 27 exclusive interviews: swimmer Alice Dearing, rugby players Celia Quansah and Meg Jones, as well as those in the sports industry, such as Katherine Grainger, head of UK Sport and Gabby Logan, sports presenter.
Also included are many exclusive photographs contributed by the interviewees themselves.
About the Authors:
Jean Williams is a historian and author specialising in Women's history, sport and literature, sportswear, and motorsport. Williams is a senior research fellow at the International Centre for Sport History and Culture, De Montfort University. She also acts as a historical consultant to the National Football Museum, particularly for elections to the English Football Hall of Fame.
Williams is author of 'A Game For Rough Girls: A History of Women's Football in England' (Routledge 2003) and 'A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football' (Berg 2007, A Contemporary History of Women's Sport (Routledge Research, 2011) and a Euro UEFA-funded project Women's Football, Europe and Professionalization 1971-2011. She has acted as consultant to sports organisations, including FIFA and for the BBC.
Gemma Lumsdaine
Gemma is a 23-year-old wheelchair athlete from Monifieth, who is a member of the GB Wheelchair Rugby Talent Squad which helps to prepare athletes to make the step to the Paralympic Squad. Gemma is also in the Scottish Disability Sport Athlete Academy.
Prior to competing in wheelchair rugby, Gemma played wheelchair basketball at a national level. She also coaches wheelchair sports for Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and won the COVA Young Coach of the Year in 2018. As well as being an athlete and coach, Gemma sits on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board and has been a member of the Scottish Disability Sport Young People’s Panel. She now supports and mentors the newly formed board.
Cheryl Robson
Editor Cheryl Robson is an award-winning writer, editor and filmmaker. She is the commissioning editor for the series of books '50 Women in...' She was a finalist in the ITV National Diversity Awards 2019 for Lifetime Achievement and is currently a finalist in the same awards as ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2022.
50 Women in Sport is published by Supernova Books. Price £24.99.
Please see below for a list of interviewees in the book:
Chemmy Alcott, ex-downhill skier and TV sports presenter, UK
Cat Carr, ex-basketball player, and WBBL Player of the Year, USA
Ellie Challis, paralympian swimmer, UK
Pamela Cookey, ex-netball player and TV sports presenter, UK
Alice Dearing, swimmer, UK and co-founder Black swimmers’ initiative, UK
Tracy Edwards, sailor and co-founder of Girls sailing initiative, UK
Menna Fitzpatrick, paralympian alpine skier, UK
Dame Katherine Grainger, ex-rower and Chair of UK Sport
Steph Houghton, England footballer and captain, UK
Meg Jones & Celia Quansah, England Rugby Sevens players, and captain UK
Julie Kitchen, Muay Thai Champion boxer and coach, UK
Meg Lanning, cricketer and captain, Australia
Gabby Logan, BBC sports presenter, UK
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Ukrainian high-jumper
Eve Muirhead, Olympic gold medallist, Scottish curler, UK
Liz Nicholl, ex-netball player and President of World Netball, UK
Aries Susanti Rahayu, champion speed climber, Indonesia
Jawahir Roble, football referee, UK
Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe, synchronised swimmers, Team GB, UK
Barbara Slater, ex-Olympic gymnast and Director BBC Sport
Bianca Smith, only female professional baseball coach, USA
Zoe Smith – Parasurfer who lost her leg in 2015 and came fifth in the World Surfing Championship 2022
Maria Toorpakai, ex-weightlifter and squash player, who defied the Taliban, Pakistan
