You Run Like A Girl - Edition 7

Good evening,

If you’re new here, hello and welcome. I’m Amita and I’m the creator of You Run Like A Girl, a media and lifestyle brand that gives a voice to women in sport.

In this edition:

• 📺 Nike’s First Super Bowl Commercial in 27 Years - Was it a Win? (sports advertising)

• 🧗‍♀️ How Sasha DiGiulian Broke Climbing’s Glass Ceiling (climbing)

• ⛵️ France Hails a Young Heroine: Violette, Conqueror of the Waves (sailing)

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Nike’s First Super Bowl Commercial in 27 Years - Was it a Win?

Nike’s return to the Super Bowl ad scene after 27 years was a bold one. The sportswear giant dedicated its entire commercial to celebrating women in sports. Titled “So Win”, the 60-second spot featured nine elite athletes:

• Alexia Putellas and Sophia Smith (⚽️)

• Jordan Chiles (🤸🏽‍♀️)

• Sha’Carri Richardson (🏃🏿‍♀️)

• Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, JuJu Watkins and Sabrina Ionescu (🏀)

• Aryna Sabalenka (🎾)

• Bonus: the ad was narrated by Grammy-winning rapper Doechii (🎤)

The commercial framed the phrase “You can’t win” as a challenge rather than a limitation, emphasizing resilience in the face of barriers. And while the message was powerful, the reaction was mixed.

Many (myself included) felt the ad rang hollow given Nike’s track record with women. Critics pointed to ongoing issues, including the company’s failure to pay $2.2 million in wages to 4,000 garment workers, a years-long gender discrimination lawsuit, and its treatment of Allyson Felix, who was offered a 70% pay cut and no pregnancy protections despite being the most decorated track and field athlete in U.S. history. Nike’s association with the now-disbanded Oregon Project, where coach Alberto Salazar was accused of abuse, further complicates its claims of empowerment (look up Kara Goucher and Mary Cain to learn more).

Having had a few days to think about it, I’m now of the mind that multiple things can be true at once. At first, the ad did feel like Nike was jumping on a movement rather than leading meaningful change. But I also recognize the value in its message and understand that no company is perfect and should be allowed to show that they’re changing.

Perhaps the lesson here is that progress and accountability can coexist. The real test will be whether Nike backs up its words with action—because true support for women in sports goes far beyond a Super Bowl commercial.

Watch the full commercial here. (Credit: Nike)

How Sasha DiGiulian Broke Climbing’s Glass Ceiling

I loved reading this profile of professional climber Sasha DiGiulian. In it, the 32 year-old diminutive athlete shares how she’s aiming to redefine the standard for female climbers by advocating for greater recognition, fair treatment, and equal pay in the sport.

A New York City native, DiGiulian started climbing at the age of six. At 12, she won her first Continental Championships. After graduating high school, she won her first world championship, and elected to defer her acceptance to Columbia University to focus on climbing.

Since then, DiGiulian has built up an impressive list of achievements. Following an undefeated streak in competition climbing—claiming four PanAmerican titles, three National titles, and the 2011 Female Overall World Championship—she shifted her focus to sport climbing before taking on big walls. She has achieved over 30 female first ascents and 12 first ascents, most recently leading an all-women team up a 2,000-foot limestone wall in Spain (the feat was hailed as “the hardest multi-pitch route ever climbed by an all-female team.”)

Her success came with a price. For years, DiGiulian quietly endured bullying and sexism. But in 2018, a social media post she made became a watershed moment, acting as a catalyst for a much needed conversation about the treatment of women in climbing.

DiGiulian’s resilience is remarkable. She’s overcome an eating disorder and gone through five surgeries for hip dysplasia. What I find most inspiring is her commitment to turning negative experiences into fuel for positive change (for example: she started SEND Bars when she couldn’t find an energy bar that worked for her).

Although she’s still young, DiGiulian well on her way to creating a lasting legacy and will no doubt leave her sport better than she found it.

Read the full article here. (Credit: Written by Andy Cochrane for The Guardian).

France Hails a Young Heroine: Violette, Conqueror of the Waves 

Three months ago, when Violette Dorange set sail from France’s west coast on a solo journey around the world, she was little known beyond the sailing community. By the time she returned last week, she had become a national sensation.

Last Sunday, the 23-year-old made history as the youngest solo sailor to complete the grueling Vendée Globe race, crossing the finish line after 90 days, 22 hours, and 37 minutes at sea. She placed 25th out of 40 competitors, unaware that thousands of fans had gathered to celebrate her return.

Dorange, who took up sailing when she was only seven, had already shattered multiple records as the youngest to achieve various maritime milestones. She was also slowly building up a social media following. Before the race, she had around 10,000 Instagram followers; by the time she finished, that number had soared past a million. Students in classrooms across France followed her journey, captivated by her resilience.

Although Dorange didn’t have access to post to her social media during her journey, she sent footage to her team, who posted it on her behalf. Fans witnessed both her triumphs—like the moment she scaled her 90-foot mast to reattach a lost sail near the Falkland Islands—and her struggles, including a brutal night off the coast of Brazil when relentless winds tore her mainsail into the sea.

Through it all, Dorange kept her composure. She’s now being hailed as a gen Z icon and there are hopes that she will inspire young people to spend less time on their phones and more time exploring the world.

Read the full article here. (Credit: Written by Richard Assheton for The Observor).