A groundbreaking new report from the UK charity Women in Sport, titled “Black Girls and Sport: A Breakup Story”, reveals a troubling paradox: despite their passion for athletics, Black British girls are the least likely to stay active through adolescence.
High Aspirations, Limited Access
- 60% of Black girls dream of becoming elite athletes — nearly double the rate of White British girls (33%).
- 85% say sport makes them feel happy and carefree, the highest among any group.
- Yet only around 14% are active outside of school.
The “Dream‑Reality” Gap
- 48% of Black girls drop out of sport during their teenage years.
- 53% were sporty in primary school but later stopped participating.
- Only 35% meet recommended physical activity levels, compared with 62% of Black men.
Barriers to Participation
The report identifies four major obstacles driving Black girls away from sport:
- Inflexible and expensive sport offerings, which don’t fit into their daily lives.
- Lack of safe and inclusive environments, including female-led or single-sex spaces.
- Stereotyping and minoritisation, where Black girls feel hyper-visible yet misunderstood.
- Pressure around hair and appearance, which leads to feelings of exclusion and discomfort.
Personal Testimonies
- “I love sport, but I always feel like I have to fit into it, rather than it fitting into me,” said one 14-year-old girl interviewed.
- Olympic javelin champion Tessa Sanderson CBE called the report’s findings “truly heartbreaking,” stressing the urgent need for recognition and support of Black girls in sport.
Widening Disparities
- Only 36% of Black girls meet recommended activity levels, compared with 48% of White girls.
- Enjoyment of sport among Black girls dropped from 50% to 39% over five years.
- 32% report being penalised simply for being themselves in sports settings.
What Needs to Change
Women in Sport calls for a coordinated national effort, recommending that schools, sports organisations, and government agencies:
- Create welcoming, flexible opportunities for participation, especially those led by Black women.
- Increase representation of Black women in coaching and leadership.
- Collect ethnicity-based data to better understand and address disparities.
- Train coaches and teachers in anti-racism and cultural awareness.
Why It Matters
Sport plays a vital role in shaping confidence, resilience, mental well-being, and long-term success. When Black girls are pushed out, the impact goes beyond sport, it limits their potential and narrows society’s talent pool.
Black British girls want to play sport. But too often, the sporting world excludes them. Closing this gap is not just a matter of inclusion, it’s a matter of equity and opportunity. The time for action is now.
