Female Athlete Podcast

Women's sport kit and why we should have the choice: Laura Youngson's journey to making women-specific football boots and why feeling good whilst playing sport is SO important

May 21, 2020 Female Athlete Podcast Season 1 Episode 7
Female Athlete Podcast
Women's sport kit and why we should have the choice: Laura Youngson's journey to making women-specific football boots and why feeling good whilst playing sport is SO important
Show Notes

In this episode we speak to Laura Youngson, co-founder of Ida Sports (a company making women-specific and the world's most comfortable!) football boots. She is also chief organiser of Equal Playing Field, a non-profit initiative to challenge gender inequality in sport, with three world records under her belt to date. 

With small feet, Laura always struggled to find comfortable boots, having played as a committed amateur around the world. While breaking the Guiness World Record for the highest altitude football match, chatting to other players involved in the climb made her realise that most women face the same problem, so she decided to do something about it.

We also talk about why it's so important women have a choice of what to wear, why it's not okay to wear kit originally designed for men (often disguised as 'unisex') and why feeling good whilst playing sport has a knock-on effect on confidence and participation levels. 

In Question Time, we answer listener questions leftover from our 'Contraception Part I' and 'Part II' episodes. 

If you have any questions for 'Question Time' please contact us on Twitter @female_pod or Instagram @femaleathletepodcast or email us your questions at femaleathletepodcast@gmail.com. 

Resources:
Ida Sports: https://www.idasports.co
Twitter: @idasportsco and Instagram: @idasports
Equal Playing Field: http://equalplayingfield.com

How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players: https://bit.ly/36lDQzS

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/05/18/menstrual-cycle-affects-two-thirds-female-rugby-internationals/

Steph Bruce website and blog: Exercising postpartum, periods and real body talk:
https://www.stephbruce.com/blog/category/REAL+BODY+TALK

Johanna Konta backs ATP-WTA ‘merger of equals’ as ‘it makes sense for it to be one tour’: https://www.tennis365.com/wta-tour/johanna-konta-backs-atp-wta-merger-of-equals-as-it-makes-sense-for-it-to-be-one-tour/

Darby Rimmer MND Foundation: https://darbyrimmermnd.co.uk

Five tips to sleep like an Olympic athlete during coronavirus crisis: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/52271086

*Disclaimer: Materials and content in the Female Athlete Podcast are intended as general information only and should not be substituted for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.