Breaking Barriers: Griffith University’s Investment in Female Athletes Draws Olympic Success

Back in 2022, when Queensland’s Griffith University unveiled the ‘Women In Sport Strategic Plan’, the mission was simple: advance gender equity in high performance sport.

The plan focused on increasing opportunities for women in sports, improving performance, and expanding leadership roles, aligning with the university’s broader goals of education, research, and partnership to support female athletes.

The plan’s key objectives included:

• Recruiting and supporting elite female athletes to Griffith University
• Fostering partnerships with sports organisations
• Promoting research. leadership and education
• Driving social change through community engagement

Griffith University has leveraged its expertise and partnerships, including collaborations with the Australian Jillaroos, GC Titans and Gold Coast Suns, to create a supportive environment for women in sports. This approach addresses disparities in areas such as leadership, pay equity and media coverage, with the aim of aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and serving as a catalyst for positive change within the sporting community.

The university’s research in sports physiology, performance, and injury prevention tailored to women has also gained significant attention from elite sports teams. Collaborating with state and national institutes, professional teams, and sporting bodies, Griffith University is advancing female-specific practices and overcoming performance barriers. One notable project involves a large-scale study on lower limb injuries in female athletes, particularly in AFL Women’s and W-League competitions, to identify risk factors and develop effective prevention strategies.

This incredible investment in the women in sport  has paid off in spades at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as demonstrated by the outstanding achievements of Griffith University athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Naomi McCarthy, Griffith Sport Engagement Manager noted “ We are proud that again Griffith have more athletes at the Olympic Games than any other Australian university, with an incredible 38 athletes associated with Griffith competing in Paris and over 70% of these are female. The results of these female Griffith athletes so far have been outstanding including: 

• Shayna Jack – Gold in 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay and 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
• Emma McKeon – Gold in 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay, Bronze in 4 x 100 Mixed Medley Relay 4 and 200m Individual Medley
• Lani Pallister – Gold in 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
• Jessica Fox – Gold in Canoe Slalom- C1 and Canoe Slalom- K1
• Kaylee McKeown – Gold in 100m Backstroke, and 200m backstroke, Bronze in 4 x 100 Mixed Medley Relay 4
• Grace Brown – Gold in Road Cycling – Individual Time Trial

We are looking forward to the remainder of the Olympics and then of course the Paralympics to support our incredible female athletes.”

These remarkable results highlight the benefits of investing in and supporting female athletes, showcasing the rewards of Griffith University’s strategic investment in gender equity in sports.

Griffith University has now established itself as an industry leader in identifying performance barriers for female athletes and implementing female-specific strategies to overcome them, and the proof is right there for all to see at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

As proud partners of Griffith University, the Ministry of Sport congratulates the university for its incredible work in advancing women in sports. This collaboration exemplifies our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable sporting industry, inspiring future generations of female athletes to achieve their full potential.