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Revealed: The true state of top-level women's sport

Almost a third of British elite sportswomen say they have suffered sexual harassment and 49 per cent have been the victim of bullying, according to research commissioned by The Daily Telegraph to coincide with the launch of its trailblazing women’s sport initiative.

The survey also found that 54 per cent of sportswomen said they have suffered gender discrimination, almost three-quarters felt judged on how they look, and more than a third had been subjected to sexist comments either directly from fans or on social media.

A total of 73 per cent of respondents agreed with Andy Murray’s statement that: “I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”

The survey also found that:

  • Only 17 per cent thought that motherhood was well supported by sport and two-thirds agreed that it was really difficult to combine motherhood with elite sport;

  • Three-quarters regarded media coverage of women’s sport as poor;

  • More than half of elite sportswomen thought that sponsorship was poor;

  • One in seven considered ending their career due to financial worries and almost 40 per cent often worried about money.

More than 300 elite sportswomen from across more than 20 sports responded to The Telegraph survey, which was carried out during the past month by Censuswide.

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It provides a unique insight into the current landscape for elite sportswomen, with responses capturing both the vast pride, purpose, identity, inspiration and joy that is derived from sport in Great Britain, but also the extent of the challenges and often shocking discrimination.

The findings on sexual harassment, bullying and sexism will sound particular alarm inside the industry and follow a series of recent complaints and investigations into the cultures and practices of individual sports.

One elite sportswoman said that her treatment had made her “feel deflated, insecure, belittled and incredibly angry”. Another reported being “bullied and left out for how I looked, as a less-sexualised, tomboy girl”.

Others recalled being told that they “shouldn’t play a men’s sport”, being excluded at school from supposedly boys’ sports and said that, “bullying at eight years old has never really left me”.

One warned that regular belittling and bullying behaviour risked the mental health of young sportswomen. “It right royally p----s me off. As I’ve got older, bolder and less likely to be intimidated by the bullies or arrogant berks, I’ve started to call out sexist behaviour and support my fellow female professionals and amateurs in the sport,” said another.

The vast fulfilment and sense of empowerment at being an elite sportswoman also shone through in the survey and the quality of coaching and facilities in this country received generally favourable feedback, as did the future opportunities to get into coaching.

Almost two-thirds of respondents felt that their sport supported their ambitions and more than three-quarters described the coaching they received as “quite good or very good”. Others also cited improvements in cultures and attitudes towards sportswomen.

The Telegraph has this week launched an unprecedented publishing commitment to transform the profile and visibility of women’s sport through enhanced coverage across print and digital platforms, but also by campaigning on key issues to inspire participation.

Giving more media coverage to champion female role models was raised as comfortably the most important factor in encouraging more women and girls into sport (83 per cent agreement), followed by increased investment and a greater societal focus on physical and mental health.

Less than three per cent described the media coverage of women’s sport as “very good”. The correlation between media coverage and better sponsorship opportunities for women’s sport was frequently made, amid the wider context of often severe financial challenges. Fewer than five per cent of elite sportswomen reported no money worries and more than half still have to pay for aspects of their sport themselves. “I am grateful and proud for the privilege but I feel sad that financially I am nowhere near my peers who have standard jobs,” said one.

Asked for the biggest challenge, one replied: “Not being able to buy a house, so finding places to stay. Not having a pension. Not having a stable income. Overcoming pressure from family to get a proper job.”

Serena Williams - Credit: AFP
Serena Williams was not given a protected ranking after the birth of her daughterCredit: AFP

A lack of support around motherhood was also raised, with respondents reporting a “pressure to return” and suggesting a longer continuation of funding “to provide some stability for the mother who has been sacrificing for the sport”, better childcare facilities at venues and the maintenance of ranking status during a maternity absence.

Even Serena Williams, arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, did not have her ranking protected after having a baby. It meant that she dropped from the top of the rankings to 453 in the world.

“Should I sacrifice relationships, marriage, motherhood to reach my goal?” asked one survey respondent.

Others highlighted “the toxic idea that women must always be feminine looking”, reported routine sexist comments from random strangers simply while out training and said that “men and some women can be really cruel when seeing a woman starting out in sport”. Another said that “girls get called fat behind their back a lot”.

Dina Asher-Smith, the triple European sprint champion, believes that positive change is happening but has called for there to be a shift in the conversation around the perceptions of sport and femininity. “There should be no prescribed thing about what it means to be a woman,” she said.

“You should be just yourself. You want to be judged for your physical prowess and how we fare against people in the same situation rather that what kind of body parts we are born with. It’s just about letting people have the freedom to be themselves and their best selves and having absolutely no barriers.”

Tennis champion Murray’s remark about the “unreal” sexism in sport also carried huge resonance, with 42 per cent of elite sportswomen agreeing strongly and a further 32 per cent agreeing slightly.

“It’s just endemic,” said one, while another replied that it was true “because of the imbalance of opportunities available, the money that’s involved, the language that is used, the facilities that are provided, the media coverage, the

importance placed on the events, the coaches that coach, the people that run the sports, and the conscious and unconscious biases that are made every single day”.