“I work on menstrual health education to dismantle the stigma surrounding periods so that all athletes who menstruate can feel supported.”

Meet, Sarah Zipp, a leading researcher on sport, gender and menstrual health. She has taught at universities around the world and was named the Early Career Scholar of the year in 2020 by the Journal of Sport for Development. Dr. Zipp designs and delivers menstrual health lessons to coaches, athletes, physical therapists, sport leaders and organisations through her Power to Play Period project.

Menstruation is a barrier for girls in sport

“I want to make menstrual health literacy standard for all coaches, athletes and sport leaders. We know that menstruation is a barrier for many girls, yet the lack of attention on this topic reveals how their experiences are marginalised in the sports world. I hope to change the narrative by making menstrual health education a part of our duty of care for young athletes, rather than a taboo. Through this change, we can create better sport environments and experiences for future generations of girls.”

People championing Sarah’s story

“I’ve had wonderful coaches and mentors in sport and in my career. It all starts at home - my parents advocated for me to have the same opportunities as my brothers. Want to play baseball with the boys? Okay. Want to be the first girl pole vaulter at the state meet? No problem. Growing up, my parents and brothers supported every sport endeavour. Now, my husband supports me in every way, and we model that for our daughters. I’m very lucky to have such family support.”