WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS
ATHOLTON HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' TRACK TEAM
Olympic Gold Medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley
Bestows Team with First "Geena Takes Aim" National Resolution
EAST MEADOW, N.Y., (January 9, 2007) – The Women's Sports Foundation will honor the Atholton High School Girls' Track Team for supporting the rights of their teammate, a wheelchair racer. Today, the team will receive the Foundation's first “Geena Takes Aim” national resolution, which honors individuals and/or groups who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment in pursuit of gender equity, civil rights and social justice in sport. The resolution is named for former Foundation trustee, women's rights advocate and award-winning actor Geena Davis.
Women's Sports Foundation Trustee Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, an Olympic gold medalist in track and field, will join members of the school in applauding the team's dedication to its teammate and friend.
“It takes more than just the fastest time to be a champion. Finishing first is nice, but doing so as a team is what true champions are made of,” said Fitzgerald Mosley. “The actions displayed by this stellar group of athletes aptly demonstrates the benefits girls receive from participating in sports – more confidence to stand up for their beliefs, higher levels of self-esteem and better body images. All girls must be given equal opportunity to derive all the health, psychological and sociological benefits sports can provide.”
A Paralympic medal winner and world record holder, Tatayana McFadden wanted to compete on the same track, at the same time, with her teammates this past season. Instead of allowing McFadden to be part of a team, she was discriminated against because of her disability and was forced to participate alone on the track in a segregated manner. The Women's Sports Foundation worked with McFadden's attorneys, Maryland Disability Law Center, to force the courts to grant an injunction allowing her to compete on the track at the same time with her colleagues. At the state championships, after a race in which McFadden ran alongside her teammates, the state officials accused McFadden of “pacing” her teammate, which caused the actual winner of the race, Alison Smith, to be disqualified. The resulting disqualification caused Atholton to lose the state championship. Despite this disappointment, the team finished the season with their heads held high and remained steadfast in their unity and mutual support.
As a result of the actions demonstrated by Atholton High School, the Foundation was moved to pay tribute to the Atholton High School 2005-2006 Girls' Track Team for standing up for the civil rights of all student-athletes. The Foundation's hope is that this resolution will show the girls on the Atholton track and field team that they are real champions to the Women's Sports Foundation.
“Central to the concept of social justice is recognition of unfairness and then standing up for the rights of others,” said Davis. “I'm so proud of the Atholton High School Girls' Track Team, and particularly Alison Smith, for standing up for the rights of their teammate, Tatayana McFadden, to participate with them in sports.”
The Women's Sports Foundation recently issued a position paper addressing the issue of individuals with disabilities in sport and its encouragement of the adoption of practices by federal, state and local authorities that protect the rights of individuals with disablities and ensure their right to participate in sports and physical activity. For a complete copy of this paper, please visit
Addressing the Issue of Individuals with Disabilities in Sport: The Foundation Position. As part of its overall mission, the Women's Sports Foundation created the “The Geena Takes Aim National Resolution” for those deserving individuals who have:
- Fostered a positive atmosphere by including all individuals, including those with disabilities, to the fullest extent possible in their team activities and competitions;
- Taken a stand against discrimination and not retracting from what is right in the face of opposition; or
- Demonstrated extraordinary commitment in pursuit of gender equity in sport.
About the Women's Sports Foundation Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership Programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call the Foundation at (800) 227-3988. You can also visit our Web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
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