Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Masterman joins campaign to unlock future of women's sport

by British Sailing Team 7 Apr 2021 16:35 BST
Alice Masterman joins campaign to unlock future of women's sport © Women's Sport Trust

The British Sailing Team's Alice Masterman has joined forces with more than 30 British elite female athletes to tackle diversity in sport head on as part of a unique programme created by the Women's Sport Trust.

Masterman, who is campaigning a 49erFX for Paris 2024 alongside Bella Fellows, has teamed up with a host of sports stars including international footballers Nikita Parris and Caroline Weir, five-time Olympic champion wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft and England rugby league player Jodie Cunningham.

The programme, named 'Unlocked', is now in its second year and aims to help athletes accelerate change across the sports industry. Representing 27 different sports and with athletes at different points in their elite careers, the group provides a unique, diverse and powerful insight into the challenges and opportunities that exist in women's sport, based on those who sit at the heart of it.

"I'm really excited to be part of 'Unlocked' by the Women's Sport Trust," said Masterman, 25, from Guildford in Surrey. "It's a great initiative to tackle the lack of diversity in sport by sharing experiences with athletes from 27 sports. I applied for the programme for a number of reasons. I do a lot of coaching when I'm not sailing and I want to inspire younger sailors, especially girls, to continue sailing despite barriers they may face. The Covid-19 pandemic has especially made that hard and I want to make sure there is no one left behind.

"It's also a great opportunity to meet like minded athletes from 27 other sports, and learn how other female athletes manage their careers and achieve amazing things. I'm looking forward to learning as much as possible and be able drive change for other female sailors and young people."

Tammy Parlour MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of The Women's Sport Trust, added: "It has been a challenging year for many, but as we come out of Covid-19, there is no better time to turbo-charge our effort and continue to unlock the value of women's sport. We believe the best way to do this is by supporting these elite women and connecting them together. Individually they are strong advocates for change but together they are unstoppable."

Other athletes in the group include England netballer and Commonwealth gold medallist Kadeen Corbin, England rugby union prop Shaunagh Brown, rowing Paralympic champion Lauren Rowles and Team GB hockey player Sarah Evans.

As part of the Unlocked group the athletes will access experts from across the sport, business and media worlds. The Women's Sport Trust hold workshops and opportunities to hear from industry insiders, as well as provide athletes with their own 'activator'. The activators are leaders in their field who will share their connections and experience to help the sportswomen tackle the issues and areas they feel passionate about.

Working with the other athletes in the Unlocked group will create a lasting network and a chance to learn from others who face similar challenges and opportunities. Virtual hangouts with the group and The Women's Sport Trust team are also a valuable source of support and inspiration.

Last year's Unlocked programme proved to be a gamechanger in empowering athletes, with four of the group now taking positions on sporting boards including two-time Olympian swimmer Lizzie Simmons who has recently been selected as the new Chair of the British Olympic Association's (BOA) Athlete's Commission and GB Paralympian Vanessa Wallace who has joined Sporting Equals as a Trustee.

To celebrate the launch of Unlocked, The Women's Sport Trust has released a short film featuring a poem by Commonwealth champion boxer Stacey Copeland. Copeland took part in the programme last year and was inspired to write about her experience. The poem, 'Our Time' charts the rise of women's sport and the importance of women coming together to inspire change.

Related Articles

Aldridge shortlisted for World Sailor of the Year
After becoming the first ever Formula Kite gold medallist in Marseille Team GB's history-making athlete Ellie Aldridge has been shortlisted for the prestigious World Sailor of the Year award. Posted on 21 Oct
Olympian raises £18k by raffling Paris 2024 boat
All the £18,053 raised will go to the Andrew Simpson Foundation Olympic sailor Micky Beckett has raised over £18,000 to help kids get on the water by raffling the boat he raced at Paris 2024. Posted on 14 Oct
Brown and Barton rule the waves in Cagliari
Silver and bronze medals at the iQFOiL Europeans It was double delight for Brits Andy Brown and Matt Barton as they scooped silver and bronze medals at the iQFOiL European Championships. Posted on 12 Oct
iQFOiL Euros kickstart LA cycle for Brits
GBR windfoilers will be out in force in Cagliari The British Sailing Team's windfoilers will be out in force in Cagliari, with six female athletes and five male athletes competing. Posted on 3 Oct
The making of Ellie Aldridge
A promising British Sailing Team dinghy racer when kite foiling was brought into the Olympics Ellie Aldridge was a promising dinghy racer with the British Sailing Team when kite foiling was brought into the Olympics... and she knew she had to give it a go. Posted on 30 Jul
The making of Vita Heathcote
Discover the extraordinary story of the youngest member of the Team GB sailing team The youngest member of the Team GB sailing team at just 22 years old, Vita Heathcote will be making her Olympic debut at Paris 2024. Posted on 29 Jul
The making of Fynn Sterritt
Two decades ago he told his school mates he was going to the Olympics one day.. Fynn Sterritt told his school mates he was going to go to the Olympics one day... and two decades on that vision has come true. Posted on 28 Jul
The making of Saskia Tidey
The three-time Olympian is a powerhouse of the 49erFX class Three-time Olympian Saskia Tidey is a powerhouse of the 49erFX class - and after teaming up with young gun Freya Black she's back to take on the world's best at Paris 2024 with Team GB. Posted on 28 Jul
The making of Connor Bainbridge
He fell in love with windsurfing as a kid, then discovered kiting Connor Bainbridge fell in love with windsurfing as a kid growing up in West Yorkshire. Soon that love became an obsession, and by the time he was in his late teens he was part of the British Sailing Team. Posted on 27 Jul
The making of Sam Sills
A world champion windsurfer at youth level, Sam is now a master of flying in the new iQFoil A world champion windsurfer at youth level, Sam Sills is now a master of 'flying' in the new iQFoil, which makes its debut at Paris 2024. Posted on 27 Jul