About National Women and Girls in Sports Day
The National Girls and Women in Sports Day is an annual day of observance held during the first week of February. It acknowledges the achievements of female athletes who have broken barriers and also serves as a day for reflection. It is a day to recognize the gender disparities still present within athletics worldwide, including inequalities in funding and the gender wage gap.
The life and legacy of United States (US) National Volleyball player Ms. Flora (Flo) Hyman sparked the creation of National Women and Girls in Sports Day. Ms. Hyman passed away in 1986 at the age of 31 after a fatal aortic dissection due to undiagnosed Marfan syndrome, according to volleyhall.org. Former President Ronald Reagan established the national holiday February 4th 1987 to recognize the contributions female athletes have made to the US and to shed light on the importance of advancing women’s sports, according to reaganlibrary.gov.
