This year was great for Black Women in Sports. Coco Gauff is the U.S. Open Women’s champion. At the time we were recording this episode Simone Biles was in the process of winning a record 34th medal on route to her 6th world title. We rarely get to cover sports for the joy of it, rather than interesting racial issues in sports. But our guests in this episodes are dynamos in their own right. Together the panel, Dr. Nikki Franke, Coach Sheila Weaver, and Coach Wendy Hilliard do a great job talking about: Magic! Black Women in Sports.
Our Outstanding Panel
Dr. Nikki Franke is a Hall of Fame fencing coach. She recently retired as the most winning women’s coach at Temple University. She is also a co-founder of The Black Women in Sport Foundation. Volley ball coach Sheila Weaver is also a Hall of Fame member and has taken her high school team to five league titles. She is the founder of The Academic and Athletic Alliance of Washington, DC. The Alliance ” helps young athletes balance academics and sports, so they can find paths to college and to success.” Wendy Hillard rounds out the panel. She was the first Black rhythm gymnast to represent the United States. She is a member of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the founder of Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation.
Our panelists discuss the challenges they experienced coming up in the sports world, as well as the ways student athletes are treated now. It is not surprising that some challenges remain, and new ones have are added, such as licensing athletes’ images. Now that student athletes can make money off of their own images and brands, a new set of thorny issues have come up. It’s a rousing and interesting discussion. Hope you enjoy Magic! Black Women in Sports.