Women’s Sport Week 2016: What is the true state of women’s sport today? – Telegraph.co.uk

It has made me passionate about dispelling the idea you cannot be a successful sportsperson if you are not a certain size. But every sport is different, with any and many body types. For swimming, my body was my tool and I tried different things to make it work for me, but when I did weights, I got muscly, so that did not work for me in water.

The biggest hurdle is getting the so-called ‘non-sporty’ girls engaged in sport. How do we do it, with so many potential barriers and fears to trying new things? That is why school visits are so important to inspire young people. I know so many Olympians who go to schools and I did not have that to inspire me growing up.

The visibility of sport for young girls – in our everyday lives, in the media, through more women’s sport on TV –is at the heart of keeping them motivated and engaged, not just every Olympic cycle or for an amazing week out of the year. 

Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent

Ex-Surrey and England cricketer, 32, turned Test Match Special commentator and Director of Women’s Cricket for the new T20 franchise Surrey Stars in the Kia Super League 

I was the first woman on the academy at Surrey, with Jason Roy, Stuart Meaker and Zafar Ansari [all members of England squads]. Gareth Townsend, the director, started hitting balls at me and I said “hold on, I’m a girl” and he said “you’re here to train like everyone else”.

There are fewer opportunities for girls but I have been very lucky. Maybe it was timing, maybe it was the club I was at – I had been around at Surrey since I was 10 so when I went into the academy I was already part of the environment. I know a lot of people have experienced a lot of stuff but I have been with good people who have treated me just like everyone else.