Women in the world of sports media often walk a tightrope and are often demonized for their looks. However, some have broken through this glass ceiling. Trailblazers such as ESPN's Linda Cohn have paved the way. Since being hired in 1992, Cohn has evolved into one of the network's most versatile personalities.
Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick is an NASCAR race car driver who has been awarded numerous championships. She was a champion driver in multiple NASCAR races and was voted the sport's most loved driver many times. Outside of her racing career, Danica is a fitness enthusiast and philanthropist. Danica is loved for her attractive personality and fit physique.
Patrick started her career as a driver of karts. She quickly became a racer. In 2005, she was the youngest person to win Indianapolis 500. She remains the only female driver who has won the IndyCar Series. She still breaks female sports records to this day.
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn is a well-known skier and a world-class athlete. She is one of the most decorated women in the history of the sport. She has won many international titles, including the Downhill World Championships, three consecutive world championships, and the overall World Cup Championship. She is a role model for women who are interested in sports.
Lindsey Vonn was brought up in Minnesota. She began skiing as a child. At the age of seven, she began competing in races and later made it to international competitions. She competed in World Junior Championships, World Cup events, becoming a World Cup champ in 2004. Vonn won the 2008 World Cup overall title and was crowned champion in 2010.
Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan's interest in figure skating began at a young age. She first discovered figure skating when she was five. Danny and Estella Kwan are immigrants from Hong Kong or China. Estella's parents were born in Hong Kong. They met at a school reunion. Her father was a phone company employee, and her mom ran the Golden Pheasant restaurant near Torrance, California. Michelle started serious training at age eight. She would practice for three to four hours daily. However, her time commitment was so significant that her family had to struggle to pay.
Kwan hired Rafael Arutyunyan, a noted technician, as her coach in the fall 2003. The pair skated to "The Feeling Begins," for the short program, as well as "Tosca" (for the long program). Kwan tied Maribel Vinson Owen's record in U.S. women’s figure skating with nine titles at the U.S. Championships. Kwan qualified the next year for the Olympic Games at Turin, Italy. There, she was judged differently. Kwan, however, fell on a triple salchow at the World Championships and was two-footed by a triple lutz.
Cari Champion
Cari Champion is a well known broadcast journalist. She is also the co-anchor of ESPN's noon show. She has extensive broadcast journalism experience and is well-versed in sports. In fact, she will speak on the 2019 program track, Pushing the Limits of Human Performance.
Cari Champion was born in Pasadena and attended UCLA. She has one older sister, and two younger siblings. She has not yet been married and is not currently involved in a public affair.
Li Na
Li Na is a very well-known Chinese tennis player. As the daughter to an athlete who saw her dreams thwarted, Li Na rose from humble ashes. Now, she is one of the world's best tennis players and one of the richest women. Most of her Chinese counterparts had never witnessed her play before she rose to fame.
She has been praised for her self-confidence and for her ability to inspire young Chinese. But her work is not only limited to sports. Li Na is also an influential cultural entrepreneur who is influencing the Chinese society beyond sport.