National Girls and Women’s Sports Foundation-The Future of Women’s Sports.

I first want to say that it is truly an honor to be here tonight and it is exciting to see so many women who are passionate and excited about their sports.  I would like to congratulate all of the award recipients. 

Let me tell you a little bit about my story.  I started whitewater kayaking almost exactly 13 years ago.  I had not always dreamed of being a kayaker, even though I had always loved playing sports.  My journey began when my mother came home from work one day and told me that a co-worker of hers paddled, and would be starting some kayaking races in New Braunfels, Texas.  She asked me if I was interested in helping with the race (which meant that she had already signed us up!).  I remember looking at her and asking “What is a kayak?” while she used her hands to shakily paddle and tell me it was” a little boat that you rowed!”  Well, I went to that race, and they decided to make me a judge!  I didn’t dare tell them I did not know what the thing was 2 days before!  I sat on a rock, and I watched about 30 people maneuver their boats in and out of the current, thinking that it looked like fun.  Before the weekend was over some of them asked me if I wanted to give it a try.  I have been hooked ever since. 

In the past 13 years I have seen so many changes in my sport, as well as women’s sports in general.  In kayaking, it has gone from hardly ever seeing another woman on the water, to being able to open any catalogue in paddlesports and being able to pick the exact colors of my women’s specific gear!  It comes in the form of being able to see women’s canoeing included in the world championships for the first time in 2010, and in our own Olympic Team Trials this year!  So many amazing women have stepped up to the plate to change the face of women’s sports.  To show high schools and universities what is possible, to make gear more accessible, and to quite frankly make women’s sports available. 

So many inroads have been made. However, they were not made so that we could have a history of women’s sports.  They were made so that women could make sports history.  This is the challenge of this generation of ladies: to step up and to take ownership of our sports. To be true leaders.  So when thinking of what I could share with you tonight,  I wanted to focus on what we could do individually to improve the future of women’s sports.

First, Stay Excited about what you are doing. Sports are supposed to be fun.  As women, we can sometimes be a bit hard on ourselves. (Maybe I am the only one who does this. but I sense there could be others).  We tend to compare each other, our talents, and goals.  We can be super competitive, and truly take the outcomes personally.  In the end, this leads to burn out.  I have talked to and known many female athletes who gave it 100% and then were just able to walk away from their sport because it was no longer fun or rewarding. Now mind you, I am not recommending that you stick with anything that you don’t love deep down inside, but maybe some times our best performances, or our happiest times will come from just appreciating the opportunity that we have.  From looking within ourselves and remembering why we compete.  To be a winner, you have to train harder than anyone else. To be a leader, you must have longevity.

Secondly, Look for the unexpected.  I never expected to be a kayaker.  I had no concrete evidence that I would be able to compete at the level that I do now.  I certainly did not think that I could be a kayak instructor, or better yet, someday own one of the leading paddlesports schools in the south.  But at every turn there was some interesting opportunity that could help open the doors to my current life.  I started coaching kids in a non-profit Junior Olympic Program, The Red River Racing Team, only two years after I started paddling, because I could help at that level.  I began teaching at Texas State because I needed a work-study job, and the outdoor center needed an instructor.  I was so nervous!  I could paddle, but could I teach? My peers!? Each one of these opportunities helped to shape my skills, develop my confidence, and open even more doors for the future.  None of these things were things that I planned, but each one made my life so much sweeter.  

Thirdly, you must believe in your dreams.  It is a fact that you will only rise as high as you can envision yourself going.  It is not enough to have dreams.  You must passionately pursue them.  You must believe that yes, you can accomplish what is in your heart.  Even if unexpected circumstances take you off course, it is better to have aimed high than to settle, and it is better to pick yourself up and keep going than to stop.  Don’t ever allow anyone to talk you out of your dreams.  Plenty of well meaning, and some not so well meaning, people will offer you their advice.  Be open to help, but realize only you know what is in your heart, and only you will have to live with your choices.

Lastly, realize that by being who you are, you are already a leader.  You may think, “I have just started, I don’t know if I will ever be great?”  Believe me someone is watching you.  You do not have to be an Olympian, or be a certain age.  You don’t have to be a World Champion, or a national level athlete.  To be a leader, you just have to care. Let me ask, how did you get to where you are now?

We all have a roll to play to advance women in sports.  We can all do this by simply giving back.  You can train, and become the best.  You can stand on a gold medal podium, but if you haven’t taken anyone with you, if you have not shared your journey, that podium will be a lonely place to be.

I am so excited about the opportunities that are now available to women in sports.  I am even more excited to be here with the ones who will stand up and take these opportunities and make great things happen!  Thank you for inviting me here tonight.  I look forward to working with all of you for the future of women’s sports!