Championing Equity in Sports and Medicine

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career that combines sports, wellness, and medicine?

During my athletic career, I noticed that athletes who come from marginalized backgrounds – whether it’s women, people with disabilities, or those from the Global South – bring a unique wisdom to sports, often rooted in their lived experiences. Despite this brilliance, their voices are often missing from decision-making tables in sports organizations. I saw an opportunity to amplify those voices and create performance models that dignify athletes and enhance their well-being. By the way, performances also improve with this approach. In 2017, I coined the term “Sports Equity” to highlight this need, and that’s when the research program was born.

Q: You also served as the International Paralympic Committee’s inaugural Welfare Officer. What were some of the key challenges you faced, and how did you address them?

Serving as the inaugural Welfare Officer was a humbling and transformative experience. One of the biggest challenges was creating an environment where para athletes, particularly those from the Global South, felt their voices were heard. The role involved ensuring their safety, protecting their rights, and addressing concerns around exploitation. Addressing these issues required a balance between empathy, advocacy, and practical solutions to uplift and support athletes while navigating a fast-paced international sports landscape.

Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your athletic career that had a significant impact on your professional life?

 I saw and experienced a lot of violence in high performance sport. At the time, it felt devastating, but looking back, it had a profound impact on my understanding of performance – it's not just about physical ability. There are hidden layers that impact athletes' and others' experiences. It’s something I now incorporate into my work at the Sports Equity Lab, where we focus on holistic development and wellbeing.

Q: You were featured in the upcoming documentary Death in the Heartlands. Can you tell us more about this project and your role in it?

Death in the Heartlands is a deeply personal project for me. The documentary follows the tragic stories of three elite female runners, including world record holder Agnes Tirop, who were murdered by their domestic partners in Iten, Kenya. The film sheds light on the intersection of gender-based violence and elite sports, a topic that resonates with my experiences both as an athlete and a sports equity advocate.

I served as the subject expert in the film, which allowed me to speak on the deeply entrenched issue of femicide within sports. These women were extraordinary athletes, but their talent couldn’t protect them from the violence that ultimately took their lives. We see forms of gender-based violence across the African diaspora in sports and media: Rebecca Cheptegei fatally burned by her boyfriend; Brittany Griner jailed unjustifiably; Taraji P. Henson and others beset by a 90% pay gap. The context of this film couldn’t be clearer right now. I hope this documentary helps raise awareness about the systemic inequities women still face.

Q: What do you hope viewers will take away from watching Death in the Heartlands?

I want viewers to understand the pervasive nature of gender-based violence, particularly against women of color in sports. These indignities can be startling, no matter how much we understand them intellectually. But this film isn’t just about tragedy; it’s a call to action. It’s about recognizing the systemic oppression we face, and the urgency needed to address it. I hope viewers will feel compelled to not just empathize but to take meaningful action – whether through advocacy, supporting sports equity initiatives, or simply having deeper conversations about how we can create safer spaces for all athletes. I want viewers to refuse to do nothing. If the film inspires collective action, it's successful.