Kia Nurse wrote an open letter encouraging young female athletes to pursue their dreams

International Women’s Day is an important to celebrate women everywhere and their achievements, which are rarely given equal treatment to the accomplishments of men and especially so in the world of sports.

Kia Nurse, who was one of ten Canadian athletes we highlighted for International Women’s Day, took to the Toronto Star with an op-ed encouraging young female athletes to be ambitious, even when their dreams may be deemed crazy. It’s an important message, and for Nurse, an experience that she has lived through personally.

It was a 4-year-old me who sat on the floor in an old gym in Hamilton watching seemingly “ordinary” girls play basketball. They couldn’t have been more than 9 years old. But watching them dribble and shoot challenged me to learn the skills. They laughed and had fun together. They developed a sisterhood. I just wanted to be part of the experience. Not long after, sport became my new love. You never know who is watching. You never know who you are inspiring ... by simply being you.

While being a female athlete can be rewarding, the world of sport can be challenging to navigate. Sport is a business. It can be cutthroat, harsh with judgment and simply put — unfair. They will define your sport by placing “female” or “women’s” in front of it. They will undermine its quality in reference to its masculine counterpart. Your aspirations may be deemed unreasonable. Your dreams may be called crazy. Be crazy anyways. Dream crazy anyways. They are only crazy dreams until you achieve them. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be great at something.

While today we celebrate women such as Kia Nurse, it’s important to keep the next generation in mind. With her play for the WNBA’s New York Liberty and the Canadian national team, she is inspiring a new generation of Canadian hoopers, one that will continue to grow the game even further.

The Star published multiple op-eds from women in sports, including Nurse’s, for International Women’s Day. Other contributors include Hayley Wickenheiser and Phylicia George.

h/t Toronto Star​