Negative attitudes to women at the top a sad reflection on society

Women who dominate their sport are as rare as hen's teeth, but when they do, they are a force to be reckoned with and are difficult to displace from their peak position.

Valerie Adams has dominated the art of putting the shot further than any other woman at world, world indoor, Commonwealth and Olympic champion events.

Serena Williams is arguably one of the greatest current tennis players and Lydia Ko has made a big splash in the golfing scene yet again, winning in perfect form at the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage in California.

These athletes are amazing and we shouldn't take their achievements for granted, even though we come to expect excellence, achievement, and wins from them. With each win, our expectations increase, and this can be a lot of pressure to take on board.

As their profile increases, however, it is also a long way to fall, and some people just can't wait to see and respond to their demise.

Just think back to the reaction on Twitter when Ronda Rousey was defeated by Holly Holm. Some celebrities and voyeurs couldn't wait to kick her some more while she was licking her wounds and her ego.

Yes, she was super-confident and played the invincible and immodest card whenever she could.

It is the American way, isn't it?

Super-confidence breeds success and if you believe it, you can do it?

Defeat is always a possibility, but the reactions to women who are bigger than life, highly successful, and often alone at the top can be quite venomous, and that is a sad reflection on us as a society rather than them as individuals.

Women should be entitled to strive for excellence and be competitive without worrying about being nice, conscientious and non-threatening. There are also niggling suggestions that having one woman dominating their discipline is detrimental to women's sport generally.

Serena's dominance of women's tennis, for instance, is seen as risky because once her reign is over, she'll cast a long shadow. There is a lesson to be learnt here in terms of suggesting that the success of one woman means all barriers for women have been broken.

The recent debate about pay parity and gender equity with regards to prize money is an example of the systemic barriers that are still alive and well in sport.

Rather than seeing these champions as a hindrance, we should see them as role models who show other women and girls what is possible. We also need to take that message with a pinch of reality and continue to break down the barriers to make those aspirations achievable for a greater pool of female athletes.

Serena, Valerie and Lydia are freaks - they show huge commitment, are superb athletes physically, psychologically and mentally, and have the right mix of appeal to their sponsors, spectators and sport.

There is no doubt that young girls in New Zealand and Korea will be asking their parents for a set of golf clubs for their birthday. Sport organisations need to be ready for this wave so we can celebrate more female champions at the top.

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