This years Women’s Health Women in Sport Awards showcased Australia’s female sporting elite but also highlighted serious issues in the sporting industry. The red carpet awards night showcased the finest women in Australian sporting in a series of awards ranging from local sportswomen to national level.
Ash Barty, Australian tennis legend and world number 1 took out the highest honour award, ‘Women’s Health Sportswoman of the Year’ as well as ‘Moment of the Year’ for her most successful year in tennis to date. “We salute Ash Barty for being a champion who is gracious in victory, pragmatic and polite in defeat, she respects the rules and her opponents and she cherishes her culture,” Women Sport Australia Communications Director Louise Evans said.
The awards continued with Australia’s unstoppable world champion female cricketers winning ‘Team of the Year’ and captain Meg Lanning winning the ‘Leadership Legend award’. Both Barty and the all-conquering female cricketers raised alarm bells at the event ensuring the fight for equal pay, access, opportunity and media continues with gender inequality still remaining a notable issue in the industry. “Let’s celebrate their amazing success, applaud their deserved achievements and not forget the fight for pay parity and equal media is ongoing,” Ms Evans added.
Ms Evans further outlined the need for equality within sport referencing the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia where the prize pool money for women is almost $3.2m less than in the men’s competition. “We’ve still got a very long way to go in the fight for equal pay, equal opportunity and access and equal media.” A full list of this years winners can be found here
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