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The world celebrates International Women’s Day on Monday, as we honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the globe.
And, here at talkSPORT, we are taking a look at those brilliant and trailblazing women who have made their mark on the sporting world – and inspired some of our very own presenters.
From two Lionesses to a tennis icon, and taking in a 2012 Olympic hero as well, we asked some of our top talent to name the sportswomen who have provided inspiration for their own lives.
Ade Oladipo – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Sunday Session host Ade Oladipo named two-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as his inspiration.
The 34-year-old Jamaica sprinter, who won 100m gold in 2008 and 2012, has also claimed World Championship gold in the 100m, 4x100m relay and 200m.
And despite becoming a mother in 2017, Fraser-Pryce returned to the track to win further gold medals – and she has the Tokyo Olympics in her sights too.
“The woman who inspired me the most growing up was the ‘pocket rocket’, the Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce,” said Oladipo.
“Everyone thinks of Usain Bolt when they think of Jamaican athletics, but she was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, sprinters we have ever seen. Nine World Championship gold medals, two Olympic gold medals in Beijing and London…
“She had a baby in 2017 and came back and won medals in 2018 and 2019! And no one will rule her out of winning another medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
“She’s arguably the greatest female sprinter of all time.”
Jim White – Serena Williams
Jim White, host of mid-morning show White and Jordan, picked tennis icon Serena Williams as the sportswoman he is inspired by.
Jim lauded the 23-time Grand Slam winner the ‘standout female competitor of all time’, with the 39-year-old still one of the best tennis players around.
“Serena Williams is a global star, an icon,” began Jim. “She is the standout female competitor of all time.
“She has been a phenomenal competitor for such a lengthy period of time, but also a wonderful ambassador for her sport.
“Whenever I see her on the court, I am in awe.
“To this day, she makes me sit up and think how she can still play at that level? But she does and she is now just one away from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of Grand Slam wins.”
Adrian Durham – Fran Kirby and Eniola Aluko
Drivetime and GameDay Live host Durham selected two Lionesses – one current and one former – as his inspirations.
Eni Aluko retired last January and currently works for Aston Villa, having made more than 100 appearances for England, while Chelsea star Fran Kirby has won 45 international caps and also numerous club honours with the Blues.
But, for Kirby in particular, it is her off-field successes that inspire Durham as much as her brilliance on the pitch.
“Two particular footballers – both Lionesses – have really inspired me,” said Durham.
“From an early age, Fran Kirby knew she was going to be a footballer. Her mum, Denise, spotted it at a very young age. A doctor threw a ball at her and instead of catching it, she started kicking the ball. Her mum even predicted she would play at a World Cup and she got that right.
“Fran’s mum suddenly died of a brain haemorrhage when she was 14 and it affected Fran badly. She had been at the Reading academy for a long time at that point but she fell out of love with football. She fell into a deep depression and she couldn’t get out of bed.
“It was only through people around that got her back into football. She fell back in love with the game and her career went from strength to strength. What she is doing with Chelsea and the Lionesses is absolutely magnificent.
“She’s comfortable talking about her mental health and her wellbeing, and that is inspiring to so many people. But she’s also a really good football player. She is great to watch.
“I love the fact she is a fantasy player, a number ten, with a great touch and great vision. She can execute the pass as well as see it and scores her fair share of goals as well.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Eni Aluko – what a pleasure to be with. What a woman, what an inspiration.
“Her football credentials are never in doubt. She represented England with dignity and class so many times but she did it in different countries as well.
“You cannot quantify how much she has had to deal with in her career and her life and the way she has handled it all, with class and dignity, is awe-inspiring.”
Laura Woods – Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
2012 Olympic hero Jessica Ennis-Hill is the inspiration for talkSPORT Breakfast host Laura Woods, who remembers ‘Super Saturday’ as if it were yesterday.
Dame Jessica, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won Olympic gold on that famous August 4, and the Sheffield native also claimed gold in the World Championships, European Championships and World Indoor Championships.
“As I grew up, the 2012 Olympics was one of the highlights of sport in general,” revealed Woods.
“I remember ‘Super Saturday’ so well. Jessica Ennis-Hill was the face of the Olympics. She had been building up this moment all of her life and to see her go through each event in the heptathlon, do what she needed to do and take it all in her stride, and just seem to do it so easily… it was just the class and the calmness she did it all with.
“I remember seeing her come up on the podium and it was one of the most iconic moments that will always live in my memory. The way she accepted her award, looked around the crowd and there was a slight moment where she kind of broke a little bit.
“She is just this incredibly talented athlete and what she has gone on to do since then – not just for athletics bit for women in sport – and what she stands up for and the fact she is a mother as well, I just think she does it with an element of class.
“She is wicked. She inspires me and I think she is amazing.”
Faye Carruthers – Dame Kelly Holmes
Women’s Football Weekly host Faye Carruthers also chose an Olympic hero as her inspiration, recalling the time she won two gold medals at the 2004 Olympics.
A two-time Commonwealth Games champion in 1500m, Dame Kelly put in a remarkable showing in Athens to first claim 800m gold and then 1500m gold – becoming Britain’s first double gold medallist at the same games since 1920.
“I have this vivid memory of standing in my living room with all my family watching the Olympics,” began Carruthers. “We were watching the now Dame Kelly Holmes romping to her second gold medal in Athens in 2004.
“It was just the most incredible moment; we were all screaming at the top of our voices, all the commentators were at the time as well.
“She was just phenomenal!
“I remember my mum telling me she was in the army as well, and I thought that was so inspirational. A woman in the army and she’s getting double gold in the Olympics. That is just incredible.
“I was lucky enough to meet her. I know they say ‘never meet your heroes’, but when I met her she was just incredible, humble and lovely.
“She was a delight. A real role model.”
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