Women in Sport:Strength, Stigma and the Silent Struggles
Written by Jasmine Borg
On 7 August 2025, MOVE - The sports and exercise medicine centre in Birkirkara brought together a remarkable group of female athletes, sports professionals, and researchers to explore the intersections of strength, resilience, and mental health in sport.
The evening, chaired by Health Psychologist and Sport Psychology Practioner Jasmine Borg, opened with MOVE’s vision, a multidisciplinary, holistic approach balancing both physical and mental wellbeing, with the ultimate goal of building not just performance, but resilient, well-rounded athletes. She explained how the event’s concept was sparked when she came across Katryna Esposito’s research online, and was struck by both the depth of the findings and the urgency of the conversation it called for. Within moments, the need for an informed discussion about women in sport became clear and Strength, Stigma and the Silent Struggles was born.
Veronica Montanaro, co-director at MOVE, shared her journey as MOVE’s very first client on the Lifestyle Pathway. What started as a lifestyle programme soon developed into training for her first half-marathon, reminding her (and the audience) that sport does not have to mean drastic change but rather an intentional choice to make movement part of one’s life.
Her key takeaway?
“Stamina comes in different forms; physical and mental. Rest when you’re tired; don’t quit.”
It was a reminder that the emotions of training and racing are universal, whether you’re an elite athlete or a beginner lacing up your trainers for the first time.
Addressing Femininity, Power, and Athlete Identity
Maltese Sport Psychology Practioner, Ms Katya Galea
Sport Psychology Practitioner Katya Galea introduced poetry and art into the discussion with a reading of The Female Athlete by Mr. Tomonoshi. The poem powerfully challenged outdated stereotypes, celebrating strength, agency, and dominance among female athletes. Through visual stories, from Simone Biles and Allyson Felix to Maltese footballer Haley Bugeja and Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell, Katya spotlighted the range and resilience of women in sport. She highlighted hard truths like the persistent gender pay gap:according to Forbes, the world’s highest-paid male athlete earned over $68million more than his top female counterpart in 2020.
Menstrual Health - From silence to Empowerment
Maltese Judoka, Paris 2024 Olympian and Sports Scientist Katryna Esposito
A woman who can do it all? Maltese Judoka, Paris 2024 Olympian and Sports Scientist Katryna Esposito presented her groundbreaking research, The Menstrual Cycle and Performance: Perceived Knowledge and Impact among Female Judokas in an Olympic Cycle, recently published in The International Judo Academy Journal. Her study shed light on a topic often left in the shadows of sports science: how the menstrual cycle truly impacts training, competition and athlete wellbeing.
The findings were eye-opening.
Many athletes had little to no formal education on how their menstrual cycle might influence performance, recovery, or injury risk.
Coaches, particularly male, often lacked the knowledge or confidence to address the topic, leaving training schedules unadapted to physiological needs. Almost half (44%) of respondents reported feeling unable to discuss their menstrual health with their coach at all.
Physical symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, cramps, and hormonal fluctuations were shown to significantly affect performance, especially during weight-cutting phases.
RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), a serious condition that can affect long-term health and performance, often went unnoticed or was misunderstood.
Katryna’s closed her presentation by reminding participants that:
“The menstrual cycle isn’t a weakness. If we listen to women’s bodies, we can begin to unlock their full potential.”
She called on athletes to track their cycles, spot patterns and advocate for their needs, while urging coaches and sporting organisations to educate themselves and create safe, open spaces for these conversations. In doing so, she argued, sport can move beyond outdated taboos and harness women’s physiology as a source of strength, not silence.
Athlete Stories: Challenging Stereotypes and Owning Power
Left to right: Jasmine Borg, Jenny Pace Hickey, Sana Grillo, Janet Richard, Katryna Esposito, Michelle Mifsud and Katya Galea
The evening drew to a close with a panel discussion led by Jasmine Borg, featuring Jenny Pace Hickey, Sana Grillo, Janet Richard, Katryna Esposito, Michelle Mifsud and Katya Galea. Between them, they brought decades of competitive experience across disciplines from track and field to pole vault, from double Ironman triathlons to Olympic-level judo.
What stood out most was their unapologetic embrace of who they are:
LOUD. INTIMIDATING. PASSIONATE. EMOTIONAL. HARD-HEADED. AMBITIOUS. DETERMINED. RESILIENT. DISCIPLINED. DARING.
The conversation was both celebratory and challenging, acknowledging the triumphs of women in sport while confronting the inequalities, stereotypes and silent struggles that remain. Each athlete reflected on the perceptions and judgments they’ve faced, both from within their sport and from the outside world. The split between their own self-belief and the labels imposed upon them was, at times, striking and a reminder of why awareness and open dialogue are so essential.
Highlights included Jenny Pace Hickey speaking about her lifelong commitment to being unapologetically herself, the challenges she faced as a woman entering a male’s world of gyms in the 70s and her appreciation for the services and opportunities now available to female young athletes. Sana Grillo reflected on how labels like “emotional” once intended as criticism have become her strength and her gift. Janet Richard celebrated the qualities of being “hard-headed” and “ambitious,” reminding the audience that success is not only about constant chasing, but also about pausing to acknowledge and savour victories. Katryna Esposito reflected on the unique challenges of being both an athlete and a woman in sport, emphasising the need for education, understanding, and systemic support to allow athletes to truly thrive. Finally, Michelle Mifsud sharing the mental strategies that kept her going through over 28 hours of racing and completing the double Ironman, all while balancing full-time work, motherhood. She shared the simple trick of being able to break a large project such as the double Ironman into small and achievable and realistic goals.
It was a panel that left the audience not only inspired, but also motivated to keep the conversation alive because change begins when women are free to own their power, without apology.
Moving Forward: Reimagining Women’s Sport
Strength, Stigma and the Silent Struggles was more than an event, it was a call for change in Maltese and international sport. The need for continued awareness, education, and advocacy around menstrual health, mental wellbeing, and gender equity was clear.
Empowering women in sport is not just about "leveling the playing field," but reimagining it entirely. Progress begins when we listen, learn, and keep these conversations alive.
Get Involved!
Are you passionate about supporting women’s health and empowerment in sport? Join MOVE Malta’s next workshop and be part of the movement for change.
Email us at info@movesemc.com.mt for details and upcoming dates!
