This October, Athlete Career Transition (ACT) celebrates Black History Month in the UK.
This year, focus falls on “Saluting our Sisters” in tribute to the countless ways Black women have shaped Britain’s history, inspiring people from all walks of life, and building communities across our land.
Here at ACT, we examine this theme through a sporting lens with content that showcases the fantastic achievements and contributions of Britain’s Black women athletes. Some of these include:
Nicola Adams, OBE
The ground-breaking British boxer was the first woman to win Olympic gold in 2012 – a feat repeated at Rio 2016. Holding titles in the Olympic, World, and European Games at flyweight, Nicola Adams retired unbeaten.
She confronted discrimination as a Black, gay woman, and earned the British LGBT Awards' Sports Personality Award in 2019. A true pioneer and advocate, Adams continues to guide others through her resilience and accomplishments.
Kare Adenegan
Winner of the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2018, Kare Adenegan is a British wheelchair athlete. Competing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, she won one silver and two bronze medals at the age of just 15. Kare set a new world record in 2018, sprinting to victory in the T34 100m at the London Müller Anniversary Games.
In June 2021, she was selected as one of the initial twelve athletes to represent the UK at the rescheduled 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. There, she clinched silver medals in both the 100m and 800m events.
Khadijah Mellah
Khadijah Mellah made history as the first hijab-wearing jockey in a British horse race. In August 2019, at 19, she won the Magnolia Cup against 25:1 odds while studying for her A-Levels.
Hailing from Peckham, Khadijah discovered horse riding through a local mosque leaflet. Her achievements earned her the Times Young Sportswoman of the Year award in November 2019.
Inspiring a nation
These are just a few of the Black women whose trailblazing has captured the imagination of the British public, demonstrating what can be achieved even when the odds are stacked against us.
Our sports scene is more diverse and inclusive than ever thanks to these remarkable women and the positive energies they continue to create.
Stay tuned for more.