Miller-Uibo demands greater investment and support for female athletes
Key Points(5)
- Two-time Olympic 400-meter champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo has challenged sports leaders across the region to move beyond discussions of gender equality and ensure women receive the resources and opportunities necessary to compete, lead and succeed.
- Addressing the NACAC Gender Leadership Conference and Gala Awards, the Bahamian star made it clear that female athletes are not seeking special privileges, but a fair chance to pursue excellence on the same terms as their male counterparts.
- “Women are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for the same opportunities,” was the central message of her address.
- Miller-Uibo said genuine equality must be reflected in practical support, including investment in athletes, access to quality coaching and facilities, medical care, sponsorship opportunities and pathways into leadership.
- Motherhood should not mean sacrificing ambition A major part of her presentation focused on the challenges women face when balancing motherhood with elite sporting careers.
Two-time Olympic 400-meter champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo has challenged sports leaders across the region to move beyond discussions of gender equality and ensure women receive the resources and opportunities necessary to compete, lead and succeed.
Addressing the NACAC Gender Leadership Conference and Gala Awards, the Bahamian star made it clear that female athletes are not seeking special privileges, but a fair chance to pursue excellence on the same terms as their male counterparts.
“Women are not asking for special treatment; we are asking for the same opportunities,” was the central message of her address.
Miller-Uibo said genuine equality must be reflected in practical support, including investment in athletes, access to quality coaching and facilities, medical care, sponsorship opportunities and pathways into leadership.
Motherhood should not mean sacrificing ambition
A major part of her presentation focused on the challenges women face when balancing motherhood with elite sporting careers.
Miller-Uibo, who captured Olympic gold in 2016 and 2020, drew on her own experience of returning to training after giving birth to explain the additional demands placed on mothers in high-performance sport.
She recalled the sleepless nights, changes to her training schedule and the often unseen effort involved in pumping breast milk between sessions.
Her experience, she argued, underscores why sporting organizations must provide appropriate medical care, recovery time, financial assistance and training environments that recognize the specific needs of female athletes.
“Motherhood didn’t take away my ambition; it gave me another perspective, and it taught me another kind of strength,” she said.
Her message was that women should not be forced to choose between raising a family and pursuing their sporting ambitions.
Role models help girls see what is possible
Miller-Uibo also highlighted the influence of the Bahamas' celebrated “Golden Girls,” the Olympic 4x100-meter relay champions whose success helped establish a powerful example for the next generation.
She credited the trailblazing athletes with showing her that Bahamian women belonged on the global stage and said young girls need to see people who look like them achieving at the highest level.
That visibility, she suggested, can help shape confidence and ambition among girls considering careers in sport.
Regional leaders gather around equality
The conference, held under the theme “Leveling the Playing Field: Women Leading in Sports,” brought together a broad cross-section of regional and international sporting figures.
Among those attending were sports ministers, federation presidents and Olympic champions, including Michelle Carter and Ana Quirot.
Miller-Uibo's contribution placed the focus firmly on the practical changes needed to ensure women have the support to excel throughout their sporting careers, including during and after motherhood.
