Looking for inspiration for your next sporting event? There are plenty of great female athletes to watch in 2016. There are many things to do, no matter if you're interested in the Olympics, running marathons, and/or competing as a member of a team. If you're looking for some inspiring stories of women's achievement, consider these four athletes.
Serena Williams transcends gender
Serena Williams, a dominating woman's tennis player, is undoubtedly one of the greatest. She's also a well-rounded athlete in all sports. She is both feminine and strong in all the right places. We can't ignore her. But how did this woman achieve such a status?
Williams's success transcended the sport she played and helped women achieve their greatest potential. She broke down barriers, overcame racism and inspired a new generation of female players. Her husband wore even a T shirt with an image from her and the message that equality for women matters.
Natasha Hastings is the fastest woman in the world
The Olympic sprint champion and Natasha Hastings are both from the United States. She was going to get married soon and would retire from track & field to start a family. However, a series of unforeseen circumstances changed her plans. Despite all the turmoil in her life, she was still capable of focusing on her family to compete in her final Olympics.
Natasha Hastings is an Olympic gold medalist who specializes in the 400 meter event and the 4x400 meter relay. She majored at the University of South Carolina in Exercise Science. She won the 400-meter indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships.
Jessica Ennis Hill, one of Britain's top overall athletes, is Jessica Ennis Hill
Jessica Ennis Hill is the Olympic and world champion in the heptathlon. She is also one of Britain's most decorated and successful athletes. Vinnie and Alison have the eldest children, Vinnie Ennis-Hill, 28, from Sheffield. Carmel is her younger sister. She was already a promising athlete at a young age and was soon recognized by Olympic coaches.
Jessica Ennis-Hill attended Highfield and Dore High Schools in Sheffield and went on to study psychology at the University of Sheffield. She was nervous about competitions and nearly got sick. Despite this, she went on to complete her degree and become one of Britain's most successful contemporary athletes. She trained over 10,000 hours for the 2012 Olympics. She would train in a Sheffield park to perform plyometric drills and then go through weight training and endurance sessions to get to the top. After a year of preparations, she won the final event at the heptathlon.
Simone Biles, a female athlete, is the only one to accomplish this feat.
Simone Biles began her career in gymnastics when she was only eight years old and has been an inspiration ever since. She didn't want to win an Olympic medal, but she did dream of a college scholarship. She was determined and perseverant and qualified for the elite level four times by the age of 14. She is today the only female athlete who has won three world all-around titles within a year.
Although she was a star pupil at Bannon's Gymnastix as a child, Biles was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at a very young age. Nellie, Biles' mother, was a great advocate for her daughter. Nellie taught her how she could focus and set goals.