The International Canoe Federation is marking International Women’s Day by shining a light on inspirational female leaders and underlining its commitment to promote women and girls in paddle sports.
Over the next few weeks as part of Gender Equality Month, the ICF will run a series of interviews with five influential women who are making an impact in their respective continents to help ensure gender balance.
The first of those will be focused on ICF Vice President Cecilia Farias (The Americas) who is continuing to knock down barriers to create more opportunities for women in paddle sports.
“Whenever I was told ‘no’, it made me push harder for a better future and make a career in the sport,” said Dr Farias, who is Chair of the ICF Diversity and Inclusion Commission.
“The denial of opportunities made me more determined to reach the places that I wanted to get to.
“The situation where women are in now is the result of the last 30 years of hard work and receiving those ‘nos’.
“Now, we have knocked down several barriers and the pathway is freer for women to run for decision-making positions.
“Every day is women’s day, but International Women’s Day is special as it calls on us to reflect on what we have done and how meaningful our contribution has been.”
ICF Board members Shao Yaping (Asia), Ola Oluode (Africa), Noemi Horvath (Europe) and Danielle Woodward (Oceania) will also feature in the ICF’s series of interviews in March.
The stories of all five of these female leaders will be told over the coming weeks to help inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
The ICF’s mission is to foster a culture which values the diversity of women and girls to enable their full involvement in every aspect of paddle sports.
National Federations are encouraged to support a fair representation and equal access to women in all canoeing activities and in the management of the sport as stipulated in the ICF’s statutes.
One of the ICF’s key objectives as part of its Fit for Future Evolution (2025-2028) strategy is to champion inclusion and gender equality, with a focus on increasing female coaches and representation of women in decision-making positions.
History was made at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as gender equality was achieved in the number of athletes and officials in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom for the first time.
There have also been strides made in leadership roles with 43 per cent of ICF Committees and Commissions currently chaired by women, while 30 per cent of voters were female at last year’s ICF Congress in Antalya which meets the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation.
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Woodward, an Olympic silver medallist in the women’s kayak at Barcelona 1992, is the Secretary General of the Oceania Canoe Association and a former President of Paddle Australia.
“When I was the head of Paddle Australia, I changed our constitution, so we had to have a minimum of 40 per cent male or female so it was about achieving gender balance,” said Woodward.
“It gives you a better Board as you have diversity of thinking.
“There are a lot of capable women out there.
“There is a myth that females have got to speak over males.
“That might have been the case years and years ago but there is conversation on the Board, and we all have an equal say.
“Our Board is incredibly respectful, and our President Thomas Konietzko is great at listening to everything we have to say.
“International Women’s Day is really important as you have got to continue to communicate because you can regress.
“We can say we have done this, we have done that but it’s easy to slip back so we have keep raising awareness.”
Oluode, who is the Vice President of the Confederation of African Canoeing and Secretary General of the Nigeria Canoe Federation, added: “The celebration on March 8 means a lot to me.
“It’s my passion and my drive.
“I have always loved International Women’s Day.
“It’s special to see the whole world celebrating women.
“It’s the only day where we look at the contribution that women are putting into sport.”
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