The Female Quotient

#SimoneBiles and #SuniLee inspiring generations then and generations now ⭐️ 🎥 @onherturf & @nbcolympics via Instagram

The most decorated gymnast of all time became *even more* decorated after winning her gold medal in the All-Around competition. So we asked people on the streets of Paris, “What would you compete against #SimoneBiles in?” Tell us below 👇

Grace with grit 👏 Last year, the 21-year-old gymnast was diagnosed with two rare kidney diseases, which sidelined her training and rocked her physical and mental health. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it.” There were times when her “motivation started to fall,” she said. After her diagnosis and plenty of rest, Lee’s team adjusted her training schedule. “It was me proving to myself that I can overcome hard things, and to hopefully inspire others to never let life’s setbacks stop you from going after your dreams.”

Who’s behind the cameras capturing the biggest moments in sports? By and large, the majority of sports photographers are men—more than 62%, in fact. We’ve witnessed it first hand at the #Olympics. Such a disparity can deeply affect the stories being told and the athletes being represented because when all the photographers look the same, the storytelling suffers and is far from inclusive. Women make up only 32% of sports photographers and report not being taken as seriously as their male counterparts. For instance, they’re often asked to move away from the sidelines so they "don’t get hurt" and are given less opportunities. Then consider the coverage captured, and you find even more reason why we need to close the gender gap in sports media. Women’s sports are covered less than men’s sports, and when they are, the coverage is often shorter and less in-depth. An uneven representation of female photographers skews the perceptions of female athletes, which can continue to hold women back. The truth is the same here, as it is in the boardroom, in the office, and beyond: women and people of color bring completely different perspectives to the table—and to the sidelines, capturing moments that only they can, elevating women athletes and telling their stories.

The best the world has ever seen! We consider ourselves lucky to watch history being made in front of our eyes, seeing legends Simone Biles and Suni Lee soar! They’ve both overcome countless obstacles to achieve greatness. Just over a year ago, Suni Lee was told she wouldn’t be able to compete in gymnastics again due to her kidney diseases. Against all odds, she won her fifth Olympic medal and is now the most accomplished Asian American gymnast in history. #SimoneBiles made history with her 2nd Olympic gymnastics all-around gold. She was already the most decorated gymnast in history, and she just extended her own record! After a break for her mental health, Simone has come back and absolutely dominated. Not to mention, since 1976 every women’s Olympic all-around champion has been under the age of 20. Simone is 27-years-old. Here’s the shattering the stats quo 👏 Their determination and work ethics are unmatched. They have achieved what so many never thought possible and will most certainly inspire generations of athletes to come.

“I’m a woman first. Remember who you are outside of what you do.” 👏 Monique Billings 🎥 The Female Quotient #EqualityLounge in celebration of Athleta’s Power of She #athletapartner Madisen Skinner

Rebeca comes from a favela (a Brazilian shanty town or slum) and her brothers would walk her 2 hours to gymnastics practice every single day. Now she’s on the world’s biggest stage, she has #SimoneBiles in her corner rooting for her, and she’s become one of the only athletes in the WORLD who could potentially beat Simone. She won silver in the women’s all-around competition🥈 despite having three ACL tears within four years. She shared, “I have had various opportunities and moments to give up – but I didn’t.” Here’s to her incredible grit and perseverance 👏 We love seeing Simone and Rebeca’s steadfast support for one another. Tag the Rebeca to your Simone!

Breanne Allarie wants to show that “moms can do it, too ... maybe ... sort of.” And her kids had a fun time watching her try! Allarie's 4-year-old son said, "'I give you a gold, Mom!'" 🥇 She's a legend in our book! 🎥 @breanneallarie via Instagram

It's up to all of us to close the gender gap. Men can and should be advocates alongside us and this is a prime example. Celebs are showing up at women’s sporting events creating buzz at the #Paris2024 Olympics—Snoop Dogg, Flavor Flav and Jason Kelce are just a few who have used their platform to support Team USA women. Garnering attention and fandom for women’s sports is just what we need more of. Keep up this momentum!

Lola has most certainly made her father proud 💗