#42 Women's Sport Is Booming – So Why Are Semi-Elite Athletes Going Backwards?

A woman just ran 253 miles through the Arizona desert, through the night, through the mountains, for 56 hours straight – and beat every single man in the race. Her name is Rachel Entrekin, and her mantra was simple: "Why not you?"Women are redefining sport, growing in leaps and bounds over the past 5-10 years, and investment at the elite level has never been higher. So why are girls still quitting at 15?This solo episode digs into one of the most important conversations in women's sport right now – the growing gap between elite investment and what is actually happening at grassroots, pathway, and semi-elite level. VFLW players earning as little as $25 a game, if lucky enough to be paid at all. A-League Women players on $26,000 watching male teammates earn five times that. Semi-elite athletes are working two jobs just to keep training and keeping food on the table. This is the pipeline that feeds professional women's sport – and it is being underfunded, undersupported, and overlooked.Kylie Lynch breaks down why this matters not just for sport, but for society.In this episode, we cover:Why elite investment without grassroots funding is a roof with no wallsThe real reason girls are dropping out at 14 and 15What semi-elite female athletes are actually earning right nowWhy female-friendly infrastructure, coaching, and registration costs are non-negotiableWhat needs to happen for the momentum at the top to trickle down with intentionSupport the showABOUT THE HOSTKylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.Connect with Kylie:Instagram: @kylie__lynchLinkedIn: Kylie LynchWebsite: www.4tg.com.auEmail: [email protected] THE 4TG COMMUNITY4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.Instagram: @4tg_podcastTikTok: ...