“I’m not a woman that’s an Athlete. I’m an Athlete.” - Skylar Diggins
Recently, we experienced the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This year’s Games was certainly interesting to watch. The newest sport to the Olympic Arena took the world by storm with Fiji winning Team Gold in the Men’s side and Australia winning Team Gold in the Women’s side being the first ever countries to win a gold medal in Sevens Rugby. Many records were shattered, including Michael Phelps, who is the now the record holder for most individual victories with 13 and 28 medals being the most decorated Olympian of all time, breaking a 2, 168 year old record and many other Olympians flourished.
Team USA Swimmer Katie Ledecky was astounding in the pool with five medals and two world records, including four of them gold. Team USA Gymnast Simone Biles was an unstoppable force and leader amongst her teammates with helping them earn Olympic Gold for Team All-Around as well as earning four medals herself in Individual All-Around. Both Team USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball won Team Gold with Women’s Basketball winning their fourth straight Women’s basketball gold medal since Athens 2004.
The biggest dilemma of the Olympics was that female athletes were seen more differently than male athletes. With gender equality being one of the most controversial humans’ rights issues across the world, many of these women have continued to pave the way female athletes are seen amongst the world. They aren’t just female athletes. They are just athletes.
One of the oldest sports in the United States is Football. When we think of the sport, we think of the greats like Dallas Cowboys’ Troy Aikman, Miami Dolphins’ Dan Marino, Green Bay Packers’ Brett Favre, Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning, and New England Patriots’ Tom Brady. Despite these historical mentions, a female quarterback never comes to mind.
Don’t Tell Me I Can’t
Brooke Liebsch is unlike any of the female athlete stereotypes. She isn’t interested in tumbling on the gymnastics floor or cheering on her high school’s football team on Friday nights. She IS; however, an athlete that fell in love with one of the oldest sports in the country. A Missouri-native, she grew up playing Football right outside her house. Playing with a bunch of 18-year olds, she discovered her passion for football when she caught a pass that one of the boys threw out to her. After that day, Brooke knew exactly what she wanted to do: to become a football player.
Seven years down her journey - three years as wide receiver and all seven years with four years solely focused on becoming the best quarterback she can be -, her determination to help break the gender barriers of a typical football player has been successful. Currently, she is a member of the Liberty North High School Football team as to no surprise a heavy hitting and unstoppable quarterback.
When asked about her favorite superheroes, she spoke with no hesitation about her favorite football player Katie Sowers, who is also breaking barriers in her own rite of passage as coaching intern for the Atlanta Falcons, and being thankful for her help in making Brooke the young star she is today.
“She has made me a better person and a better player than I am today, “ she says when asked about why she sees Katie Sowers as her superhero. She also spoke about the dynamic powerhouse Liz Sowers, who was selected this year as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football Team and a proud member of the Kansas City Titans, as one of her inspirations to following her passion for Football and never letting anyone or anything keep her from playing the game she loves.
Training and practicing everyday, Brooke is a superhero because she sees how much of an impact she has on everyone that she touches from her parents, family, teammates, friends, role models, and most importantly to those she wants to inspire the most: younger girls who love playing football, too. Her commitment to fitness and improving her technical skills will help her achieve not only continuing to play in college, but as well in her own life. With inspiring other young girls, she is making a change in how the sport is seen and how female athletes are seen today. She isn’t a female athlete. She is an athlete.
“Be you and do what you love. Don’t quit playing a sport that you love just because someone said something. There is always going to be haters, but you just have to fight against it and no matter what anyone says never ever give up something that you love. Keep going because one day you will regret if you quit what you love doing. Never give up.” Brooke Liebsch
