NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's
Sports Foundation (WSF) announced today its 2020 Travel &
Training Fund grant recipients, awarding a total of $75,000 to 15 individual athletes and two women's
teams, across eight states and 13 sports. Fueled by WSF National
Partner Gatorade®, the Fund is designed to support women athletes
with elite potential who have financial need and would otherwise be
unable to afford basic necessities such as coaching, travel and
equipment – vital to achieve even higher performance levels and
rankings. This year's class of grant recipients is largely
represented by athletes training and competing to make the
USA teams for the upcoming 2021
and 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo (summer) and Beijing (winter),
respectively.
We believe in the power of women athletes to show the world what
they can do.
The cost to train and compete can be a challenge for every
athlete and, given a historic bias toward men's sports, that is
often amplified for women. This year has been especially
challenging as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a
significant impact. In applying for the grant, many of this year's
recipients reported difficulties in gaining access to training
facilities, a loss of sponsorships and lack of competitions.
WSF, an ally, advocate and catalyst in women's sports, is the
first organization to ever offer grants to elite women athletes,
building a three-decade legacy that remains as important today as
it was at inception. The Foundation is driven to help advance and
inspire women athletes while making the playing field more
inclusive. Funding these athletes helps ensure an ongoing pipeline
of role models and inspiration for girls on fields, courts, in gyms
and pools across the country, chasing similar dreams and
aspirations.
"The Women's Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women
to reach their potential in sport and life," said WSF CEO,
Deborah Antoine. "The financial
burdens of competing at an elite level, ideally, should not be a
limiting barrier to an athlete or team achieving their best. We
believe in the power of women athletes to show the world what they
can do, and to show young girls what they too can become. We are so
very proud of the Olympic, Paralympic and National Championship
legacy of our Travel & Training Fund, and we are eternally
grateful for the support of our National Partner,
Gatorade."
The 2020 class of grant recipients are a diverse representation
of women athletes across sports. Of the 52 athletes who will
benefit from WSF and Gatorade's support - 15 individual athletes,
the remainder via teams - six compete in adaptive sports. Further,
the 13 sports represented are comprised of eight summer and five
winter sports. See below for the list of 2020 Travel & Training
Fund recipients.
"We at Gatorade believe in the importance of women in sports and
are committed to providing female athletes with the same level of
support and accessibility as their male counterparts," said
Shawna Ryan, Gatorade Director of
Experiential Marketing. "We're proud of our long-running
partnership with Women's Sports Foundation to provide financial
assistance, to not only help foster the success of the grant
recipients, but to inspire young girls in the game to know they
have potential to be future champions themselves."
Since its inception in 1984, WSF has awarded Travel &
Training Fund grants to more than 1,500 individual athletes and
teams. Many of these athletes went on to capture national
championships and Olympic and Paralympic medals, including: figure
skaters Michelle Kwan and
Tarah Kayne, diver
Mary Ellen Clark, track
sprinter Scout Bassett, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, softball player
Rachel Garcia, the U.S. Women's
National Water Polo Team and U.S. Deaf Soccer Women's
National Team.
The grants, ranging from $2,500 to $10,000,
help keep elite women athletes on track to compete at the highest
levels in their sport. Which in turn, also helps prepare them for
leadership roles now and in the future, beyond the competition.
Athletes interested in applying for next year's grant cycle can
find information here.
2020 Travel & Training Grant Recipients
Training for 2021 Olympic and Paralympic
Games
Gwendolyn Berry,
The Woodlands, TX - Track &
Field
Amy Dixon, Encinitas, CA - Triathlon
Alanna Flax-Clark, Granada Hills, CA - Equestrian
Josephine Fouts, San Diego, CA - Cycling
Sophia Herzog, Poncha Springs, CO - Swimming
Maggie Malone, Birmingham, AL - Track & Field
Nia Toliver, Los Angeles, CA - Rugby
Mallory Velte, Sacramento, CA - Wrestling
Roble Shea Sailing (team), Marco Island,
FL – Sailing
Training for 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games
Danielle Aravich,
Eagle, ID - Biathlon
Hailey Choi, Clifton, VA - Speed Skating
Kelly Curtis, Miami, FL - Skeleton
Hannah Halvorsen, Anchorage, AK - Cross Country Skiing
Alysa Liu, Oakland, CA - Figure Skating
Audrey Lu, Frisco, TX - Figure Skating
Joy Rondeau, Granby, CO – Biathlon
Training for 2021 Rugby World Cup
USA Rugby Women's National Team XVs,
Lafayette, CO - Rugby
About Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women
to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an
advocate and a catalyst. Founded by Billie
Jean King in 1974, we strengthen and expand participation
and leadership opportunities through research, advocacy, community
programming and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships. The
Women's Sports Foundation has positively shaped the lives of
millions of youth, high school and collegiate student-athletes,
elite athletes and coaches. We're building a future where every
girl and woman can #KeepPlaying and unlock the lifelong benefits of
sport participation. All girls. All women. All
sports.® To learn more about the Women's Sports
Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
About Gatorade
The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP),
meets the needs of consumers who participate in Sports and Fitness,
through brands that include Gatorade, Propel, Muscle Milk and
Bolt24. The solutions they provide are driven by a deep
understanding of the unique needs and occasions of different types
of sports and fitness. Gatorade, their marquee brand, is
underpinned by more than 50-year history of studying the best
athletes in the world and sports-nutrition research by the Gatorade
Sport Science Institute, allowing it to provide
scientifically-formulated products that meet athletes' needs both
on and off the field. For more information and a full list of
products, please visit www.gatorade.com.
Media Contact:
Patty Bifulco
Women's Sports Foundation
631.230.3322
PBifulco@WomensSportsFoundation.org
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SOURCE Women's Sports Foundation