Women athletes are redefining what 'strength' really means

This is a column by Shireen Ahmed, who writes opinion for CBC Sports. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

As the month of March rolls around, I prepare to attend many events to celebrate International Women's Day. I like to celebrate women all the time and the global community of women in sports also gets extra amplification and well-deserved attention. 

I also prepare to avoid the discussions from the "I'm just playing devil's advocate" dudebro types who ponder why there isn't an "International Man's Day", arguing if feminists really wanted equality then there would be a day celebrating men, too. And questioning whether women are "tough enough" or "strong enough."

If only I had the energy to sit them down in person and explain the differences between equity and equality. It takes a level of mental strength and emotional bandwidth I do not have, and am not interested in spending. And that is okay, too. 

In addition to the recognition we offer women today, we should think about the acknowledgement of the less-than-glorious moments in sports. There have been moments of failure and struggle. Do we hold enough space and place for those? We should understand that women athletes will navigate those issues. Not speaking about mental-health challenges as part of the experience in sports can be dangerous. 

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One week ago, U.S. college soccer player Katie Meyers, was found in her room on the Stanford University campus. Meyer died by suicide. She was best known for her incredible goalkeeping performance in the 2019 NCAA finals that was pivotal in her Cardinals winning a national title. 

Her family is devastated, her teammates are heartbroken and many in the women's soccer world are wondering how and why this could happen. During a crushing interview with The Today Show, Gina Meyer explained that her normally bubbly 22-year-old daughter was facing some possible disciplinary charges at school. Athletes are expected to be so tough that the weight of anxiety and stress is not calculated into what they may experience. If Meyer was distraught, did she have a person to go to? Her death feels like such a grave loss because no one knew or could intervene. 

Mental health struggles are often silent and don't always display obvious symptoms, particularly with athletes we think are "strong."

High-performing elite women athletes are so busy proving they deserve broadcast time, should be paid fairly, and that issues of justice matter to them. They are the embodiment of strength. 

The Canadian women's national soccer team are strong advocates on issues of LGBTIQ2S+ and for racial justice. They have supported campaigns to support frontline workers in the pandemic and constantly promote having a sustainable women's league in Canada. This is all in addition to being Olympic champions. Canada's women's hockey team is also looking for a sustainable women's league because women's hockey doesn't have one either. And they, too, are Olympic and world champions. 

The toll taken on girls and women to not only rally support for their existence in sports but retain energy and strength for competing is unimaginable. And like in the case of Katie Meyer, it can be overwhelming. Protecting and advocating for girls and women in sport is also important. 

With the expectations and demands to be perfect and win, it is seldom possible to avoid succumbing to heavy worry, loneliness and stress, 

CBC's Anastasia Bucsis is a dear colleague and friend. She is talented, intelligent and warm; everything we would imagine a successful broadcaster or athlete to be. Bucsis wrote an intensely beautiful and important piece in 2018 about her own struggles with mental health, and how she navigated the turbulent times in her life. Her honesty about her personal trials helps us feel less alone in our own.