April 22, 2021
Gryphons Lisa Wedel shares her story in her own words
With 1 in 3 Canadian girls dropping out of sport in adolescence, compared to just 1 in 10 boys, Canadian Women & Sport launched a national awareness campaign, She's Got It All, to challenge traditional mindsets on how women and girls experience sport. Only by better understanding the needs of women and girl athletes will we be able to make changes that support them to stay in sport. In support of the campaign, Ontario University Athletics reached out to our athletes, coaches, and administrators to learn about their experiences. We appreciate their honesty and vulnerability, and we are excited to spotlight their stories, in their own words, and encourage all of us to consider how we might behave differently after listening to their stories.
Guelph, Ont. - My name is Lisa Wedel and I am fortunate enough to be co-captain of the University of Guelph Gryphons Women's Volleyball Team.
During my time in sport, it has become increasingly evident to me how since the Canadian sports system was created by men, it caters to men. As a result, female athletes face many barriers to competing that men do not.
For example, females are seen as not having what it takes to succeed in sport and thus, aren't taken as seriously as male athletes. People would rather watch male sports because they believe men have a superior skill level, which leads to a higher level of competition. This gives the impression that men are high performance athletes whereas women are recreational players. With the rise in popularity of the WNBA and other professional women's sports leagues in the past few years, you might think that this is a sexist notion of the past. Unfortunately, from personal experience, I can tell you that it is still a problem today.
My volleyball team often practices after the recreational basketball timeslot and, out of respect for them and their scheduled time, we wait until it is our time to practice before setting up. One day in particular about two years ago, when their time was up, all the recreational players started to leave except this one man who kept playing. After a few minutes, he still had not left, so I went over to give him a polite heads up that we would be using the court he was on. He nodded but kept playing. I continued setting up the nets with my teammates, hoping he would take the hint. Finally, my coach noticed he was still playing and asked him to leave. At this point, I was taping my hand by gym doors, so the man had to pass me on his way out. Clearly upset at having to leave, he looked at me as he opened the door and said, "Calm down, you're playing a WOMEN'S sport in CANADA".
I was so taken aback by his words that I said nothing in return. Once the shock wore off, I was furious. Later that night, my rage turned into shame. Why was I so offended by what he had said? Playing a women's sport in Canada shouldn't be an insult to me, but clearly, I took it as one. That day, I realized that I was subconsciously buying into the traditional and ridiculous idea that women's sports are below men's sports. Anyone who knows me has heard that story and knows that I keep that man's "insult" as a quote on my desktop because I intend to take it as a compliment.
This first barrier means that female athletes have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts in order to gain the same recognition, but another barrier is that they're expected to be models as they do so. To meet that unfair expectation, female athletes often feel pressured to show up to game day completely hairless, with flawless makeup and a spray tan. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best while playing, but if a female athlete chooses not to look a certain way, she should not be seen as a lesser competitor.
"I've learned that strength doesn't have one definition and can look different on everyone."
Female athletes are also expected to be slender because that means they're strong. It doesn't matter how much you can lift or how well you play, if you have cellulite or your stomach isn't flat, you aren't fit. As a person who stands at 6ft and weighs 205lbs, this has been a constant struggle for me. In my first year, I dreaded weigh-ins because there was shame in being heavier than almost every single player on BOTH the women's and men's volleyball teams. However, in the weight room, I found that despite what the scale said, I was strong. In fact, through amazing coaching and supportive teammates, I have been able to beat team weightlifting records and found that sometimes, I can match the men's team, pound for pound. I've learned that strength doesn't have one definition and can look different on everyone.
This newfound understanding of strength and the desire to prove that women are just as capable as men, has pushed me to apply to be an Ontario FireRanger this summer. When I expressed my interest for this job, I was warned that it is a male-dominated field and of the few females that attempt the required physical test, many end up failing. However, my time in varsity athletics has taught me that the traditional mindset concerning the abilities of females needs to be challenged because it is simply not true. The time I achieved on my FireRanger physical test attempt is a testament to that.
Unfortunately, my weight is not the only area where I fail to look as a female athlete "should." I have been diagnosed with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease wherein my immune system attacks my skin and joints. As a result, I have red patches of skin all over my body and inflamed joints. Unfortunately, these physical effects come with a side of depression and social anxiety. Looking different than everyone else is a challenge in my daily life as people often think it is contagious, but it also makes playing the sport I love painful. My bad elbows have forced me to alter my training regimen somewhat, but it is the psychological pain caused by having different skin that is the most significant.
When I started high school, I switched from soccer to volleyball, which meant a very different uniform. I remember trying on the volleyball uniform and having a panic attack. The spandex shorts and tank top meant my psoriasis was on full display. I suddenly wanted to quit the sport that had finally made me feel confident about being a tall girl. Fortunately, I didn't let myself quit and a few years later, was signed to play for Guelph. At university, I found amazing friends and teammates who didn't care that I looked different. Recently, I was even given the opportunity to share my story while promoting clothing from a small local athletic clothing brand called Epitome Athletics.
"Even after winning bronze at the OUA Quigley Cup this past season with my team, I still feel like my athletic abilities are not what people notice about me on the court because my skin is what they see first."
Despite all this support, it is still a struggle because the traditional beauty standards for women in sport remain. In fact, my confidence on the court often has an inverse relationship with the amount of my skin that is visible to others on the Jumbotron. I feel much more confident and valued as a player in our long sleeve jerseys than our short-sleeve practice shirts. Even after winning bronze at the OUA Quigley Cup this past season with my team, I still feel like my athletic abilities are not what people notice about me on the court because my skin is what they see first.
Unfortunately, I am not the only female athlete who feels the pressure to look runway ready when they step out on the court. For some, the pressure is too great, and they are forced to leave sport and its many joys, behind them. Therefore, commentators, spectators, and coaches need to learn to keep any mention of appearance out of their analysis of players because how an athlete looks has no association with their talent nor their value as a human being.
"Unfortunately, I am not the only female athlete who feels the pressure to look runway ready when they step out on the court."
Despite competing in a system that wasn't designed for or by them, female athletes have found ways to succeed in both the little things and the much bigger ones. They have found the type of sports bra that works for them, despite the steep cost. They accept that yes, their period just so happens to fall on the big tournament weekend and yes, they'd better be ready to play through the cramps that come with it. They don't let the fact that the male change rooms all have sponsor plaques, but theirs doesn't, affect how hard they play.
However, this success is due in part to the support of other female athletes which I have experienced personally at many points in my career. When I was in grade 12, I won the She's Got Game Jr. Gryphons award from the University of Guelph for academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community involvement. It was presented to me at the She's Got Game gala where I got to see female varsity athletes being honoured as well. Attending this gala showed me that being a high-performance female athlete was possible and was something to celebrate.
Fast forward, my teammates and I are now those female athlete role models. We are now the ones who are winning OUA bronze medals and attaining Academic All-Canadian status in our studies. However, we are able to focus on achieving excellence on the court and in the classroom thanks to scholarships that lessen the financial burden of school. Amazingly, these scholarships often come from other women in the community. Having experienced first-hand the difference support for female athletes can make, I strive to provide this same outstanding level of support to incoming athletes in my work as a Student Athlete Mentor at the University of Guelph.
Hopefully, through support and awareness campaigns like "She's Got it All/In Their Own Words", the barriers that female athletes need extra support to overcome can be first identified and then, removed; the old system dissolved leaving in its place, a system devised by all genders, for all genders.
"my time in varsity athletics has taught me that the traditional mindset concerning the abilities of females needs to be challenged because it is simply not true."
Lisa Wedel | Guelph Gryphons | Student-Athlete
Guelph, Ont. - My name is Lisa Wedel and I am fortunate enough to be co-captain of the University of Guelph Gryphons Women's Volleyball Team.
During my time in sport, it has become increasingly evident to me how since the Canadian sports system was created by men, it caters to men. As a result, female athletes face many barriers to competing that men do not.
For example, females are seen as not having what it takes to succeed in sport and thus, aren't taken as seriously as male athletes. People would rather watch male sports because they believe men have a superior skill level, which leads to a higher level of competition. This gives the impression that men are high performance athletes whereas women are recreational players. With the rise in popularity of the WNBA and other professional women's sports leagues in the past few years, you might think that this is a sexist notion of the past. Unfortunately, from personal experience, I can tell you that it is still a problem today.
My volleyball team often practices after the recreational basketball timeslot and, out of respect for them and their scheduled time, we wait until it is our time to practice before setting up. One day in particular about two years ago, when their time was up, all the recreational players started to leave except this one man who kept playing. After a few minutes, he still had not left, so I went over to give him a polite heads up that we would be using the court he was on. He nodded but kept playing. I continued setting up the nets with my teammates, hoping he would take the hint. Finally, my coach noticed he was still playing and asked him to leave. At this point, I was taping my hand by gym doors, so the man had to pass me on his way out. Clearly upset at having to leave, he looked at me as he opened the door and said, "Calm down, you're playing a WOMEN'S sport in CANADA".
I was so taken aback by his words that I said nothing in return. Once the shock wore off, I was furious. Later that night, my rage turned into shame. Why was I so offended by what he had said? Playing a women's sport in Canada shouldn't be an insult to me, but clearly, I took it as one. That day, I realized that I was subconsciously buying into the traditional and ridiculous idea that women's sports are below men's sports. Anyone who knows me has heard that story and knows that I keep that man's "insult" as a quote on my desktop because I intend to take it as a compliment.
This first barrier means that female athletes have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts in order to gain the same recognition, but another barrier is that they're expected to be models as they do so. To meet that unfair expectation, female athletes often feel pressured to show up to game day completely hairless, with flawless makeup and a spray tan. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best while playing, but if a female athlete chooses not to look a certain way, she should not be seen as a lesser competitor.
"I've learned that strength doesn't have one definition and can look different on everyone."
Female athletes are also expected to be slender because that means they're strong. It doesn't matter how much you can lift or how well you play, if you have cellulite or your stomach isn't flat, you aren't fit. As a person who stands at 6ft and weighs 205lbs, this has been a constant struggle for me. In my first year, I dreaded weigh-ins because there was shame in being heavier than almost every single player on BOTH the women's and men's volleyball teams. However, in the weight room, I found that despite what the scale said, I was strong. In fact, through amazing coaching and supportive teammates, I have been able to beat team weightlifting records and found that sometimes, I can match the men's team, pound for pound. I've learned that strength doesn't have one definition and can look different on everyone.
This newfound understanding of strength and the desire to prove that women are just as capable as men, has pushed me to apply to be an Ontario FireRanger this summer. When I expressed my interest for this job, I was warned that it is a male-dominated field and of the few females that attempt the required physical test, many end up failing. However, my time in varsity athletics has taught me that the traditional mindset concerning the abilities of females needs to be challenged because it is simply not true. The time I achieved on my FireRanger physical test attempt is a testament to that.
Unfortunately, my weight is not the only area where I fail to look as a female athlete "should." I have been diagnosed with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease wherein my immune system attacks my skin and joints. As a result, I have red patches of skin all over my body and inflamed joints. Unfortunately, these physical effects come with a side of depression and social anxiety. Looking different than everyone else is a challenge in my daily life as people often think it is contagious, but it also makes playing the sport I love painful. My bad elbows have forced me to alter my training regimen somewhat, but it is the psychological pain caused by having different skin that is the most significant.
When I started high school, I switched from soccer to volleyball, which meant a very different uniform. I remember trying on the volleyball uniform and having a panic attack. The spandex shorts and tank top meant my psoriasis was on full display. I suddenly wanted to quit the sport that had finally made me feel confident about being a tall girl. Fortunately, I didn't let myself quit and a few years later, was signed to play for Guelph. At university, I found amazing friends and teammates who didn't care that I looked different. Recently, I was even given the opportunity to share my story while promoting clothing from a small local athletic clothing brand called Epitome Athletics.
"Even after winning bronze at the OUA Quigley Cup this past season with my team, I still feel like my athletic abilities are not what people notice about me on the court because my skin is what they see first."
Despite all this support, it is still a struggle because the traditional beauty standards for women in sport remain. In fact, my confidence on the court often has an inverse relationship with the amount of my skin that is visible to others on the Jumbotron. I feel much more confident and valued as a player in our long sleeve jerseys than our short-sleeve practice shirts. Even after winning bronze at the OUA Quigley Cup this past season with my team, I still feel like my athletic abilities are not what people notice about me on the court because my skin is what they see first.
Unfortunately, I am not the only female athlete who feels the pressure to look runway ready when they step out on the court. For some, the pressure is too great, and they are forced to leave sport and its many joys, behind them. Therefore, commentators, spectators, and coaches need to learn to keep any mention of appearance out of their analysis of players because how an athlete looks has no association with their talent nor their value as a human being.
"Unfortunately, I am not the only female athlete who feels the pressure to look runway ready when they step out on the court."
Despite competing in a system that wasn't designed for or by them, female athletes have found ways to succeed in both the little things and the much bigger ones. They have found the type of sports bra that works for them, despite the steep cost. They accept that yes, their period just so happens to fall on the big tournament weekend and yes, they'd better be ready to play through the cramps that come with it. They don't let the fact that the male change rooms all have sponsor plaques, but theirs doesn't, affect how hard they play.
However, this success is due in part to the support of other female athletes which I have experienced personally at many points in my career. When I was in grade 12, I won the She's Got Game Jr. Gryphons award from the University of Guelph for academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community involvement. It was presented to me at the She's Got Game gala where I got to see female varsity athletes being honoured as well. Attending this gala showed me that being a high-performance female athlete was possible and was something to celebrate.
Fast forward, my teammates and I are now those female athlete role models. We are now the ones who are winning OUA bronze medals and attaining Academic All-Canadian status in our studies. However, we are able to focus on achieving excellence on the court and in the classroom thanks to scholarships that lessen the financial burden of school. Amazingly, these scholarships often come from other women in the community. Having experienced first-hand the difference support for female athletes can make, I strive to provide this same outstanding level of support to incoming athletes in my work as a Student Athlete Mentor at the University of Guelph.
Hopefully, through support and awareness campaigns like "She's Got it All/In Their Own Words", the barriers that female athletes need extra support to overcome can be first identified and then, removed; the old system dissolved leaving in its place, a system devised by all genders, for all genders.
"my time in varsity athletics has taught me that the traditional mindset concerning the abilities of females needs to be challenged because it is simply not true."
