Female athletes who played a part in the rise of women’s sport in Australia
The injection of investment and interest into women’s sport has it thriving across the nation. The Sunday Telegraph spoke to five female athletes who played a big part in the rocketing rise of women’s sport in Australia. Here are their stories.
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Passion was once all women had to pursue in sport.
Now the age of professionalism — whether full fledged or partial — is transforming the landscape for women’s sport across Australia.
While some male sports struggle to maintain a dominance that was once assumed, the injection of investment and interest into women’s sport has it thriving.
This love of the game plus a relief of financial strain combines for hard-working, dedicated athletes.
Award-winning Sunday Telegraph sports photographer Phil Hillyard spent 2018 capturing some of these women as they went through the grind of training in their quest to be the best.
WBBL and Aussie cricket superstar Ellyse Perry, Matildas and Sydney FC striker Caitlin Foord, Ironwoman champion Jordan Mercer, paddling world champion Jessica Fox and GWS Giants AFLW captain Amanda Farrugia are captured in all their glory.
All have experienced the highs and lows of sport. And they’ve all played a part in the rocketing rise of women’s sport in Australia.
They’ve tell their stories about how they’ve toughened up for longer seasons, criticism from rivals and more scrutiny from the public.