Megan Rapinoe, soccer legend and Co-Founder of A [+]
Megan Rapinoe is nothing short of a lightning rod when it comes to the public discourse in sports and American life. But the newly retired U.S. soccer star is less likely to want to talk about her World Cup wins or personal achievements on the pitch as she is to talk up women and the future of women in sports.
During an interview early this week, Rapinoe said that she thinks the “increasing conversation about gender and equality” has made it the right time for her to discuss an often unmentioned aspect of female existence. That topic: the menstrual cycle.
Today, it has been announced that Rapinoe will partner with Knix, a women’s wear brand that has tasked Rapinoe with helping normalize conversations about young women’s physical health and well-being. Rapinoe said the topic is just part of the experience of female athletes.
“We’re finding that young women are dropping out of sports around the onset of their periods. Those numbers are far too high, especially since we know the positive impact sports can have on girls, whether it’s their confidence, relationship-building, or the physical aspects of sports,” said during our Zoom interview on Monday.
According to the Sport Your Period Initiative, one in two teen girls will skip sports or drop out altogether because of their period. At the same time, 99% of athletes have competed in their period at an international competition, including Rapinoe.
In a new video, Rapinoe talks about how she and “all female athletes” have competed professionally and on the world stage, scoring goals and winning big games while on their period.
“A lot of girls feel embarrassment around their period or that it’s taboo. It should not be taboo. It’s normal; it’s how we all got on this earth, how we reproduce,” Rapinoe said, stating that it’s “all a big part” of being an athlete.
“There’s not often been much space” Rapinoe said, historically speaking, “to talk about your cycle or how it interacts with you in sports, and I love this campaign from Knix. It celebrates that part of our journey as people, as athletes—during the Olympics or in the league—and to talk about it and normalize it is very powerful.”
The Sport Your Period Initiative also found, during its commissioned study on the subject, that nearly two-thirds of athletes at all levels have felt uncomfortable talking about their periods with their coaches.
To boost the conversation, Knix stated today that it will pay eligible athletes who compete at the national or international level up to $2,000 each for speaking publicly about their periods and the sport they play.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Knix on this important campaign. There have been countless times where I’ve scored game-changing goals and never mentioned that I was on my period,” said Rapinoe.
In December 2019, Rapinoe was named Sports Illustrated’s 2019 Sportsperson of the Year, which placed her on the magazine's front cover. No other soccer player has won this honor, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Pelé, Maradona, and Lionel Messi.
