Women across the world have been demonstrating their wondrous strength for decades. From traversing the Antarctic to being fast as hell or playing tennis like a boss, we women know how to conquer. Here is a list spanned decades and countries of seven powerful, dominant women warriors showing their strength with no shame.
1. Junko Tabei- The First Woman To Climb Mt. Everest.
Junko attended Showa’s Women’s University in Japan, where she first became interested in climbing. After leaving school, she started the “Ladies Climbing Club: Japan” and began climbing some of the highest peaks in her area. Then, in 1975 she began her journey to climb Mt. Everest. Her group was comprised of 15 women, many of whom were professionals, and two–Junko included–who had children. She reached the top on May 16 but not before the group was hit by an avalanche. They women were all buried by snow and Junko was unconscious for six minutes. But, that didn’t stop her and she still climbs 2 to 3 mountains a year!
2. Florence Griffith Joyner- Fastest Woman In The World
Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Florence, known as Flo-Jo, began her running career in high school. She then went on to run at California State University at Northridge and first qualified for the Olympics in 1980. She went on to set the record for 100 meters (10.49 seconds) and 200 meters (21.56 seconds) sprints during the 1988 Summer Olympic trials and events.
3. Marta Vieira da Silva- The Greatest Female Soccer Player
Marta is a true fighter. She was dedicated to the sport of soccer from a very young age when she had to prove herself to play with the boys in her small town in Brazil. She moved away from home at 14 to play in Rio de Janeiro where she continued to garner attention. Marta started playing for a Swedish soccer team in 2004 and from there became a national success. She won FIFA Player of the Year five years in a row (2006-2010), more than any man or women. She was on the Brazilian team when they won silver in the Olympics and earned the nickname “Pele with Skirts” and is known as the best female player of all time.
4. Liv Arnesen & Ann Bancrof- First Women To Cross Antarctica
This badass duo was already accomplishing amazing things when they met—Liv, from Norway, had skied to the South Pole and Ann, from Minnesota, had skied across Greenland! But, hungry for more adventure the women became the first females to ski across Antarctica. They had to go through extreme preparation for this journey, working for two years to gain the strength needed to pull all their food behind them. They completed the 1,717-mile journey in 94 days! What an incredible feat!
5. Tracy Caulkins- Champion Swimmer
At just nine-years-old Caulkins, from Minnesota, knew she wanted to be an Olympic swimmer. At 15 she won five gold medals at the World Championships in Berlin, setting four world records. Then, in 1979 after fighting off a viral infection, she went on to win four more gold medals at the Pan American Games, hosted in Puerto Rico. But, her amazingness didn’t stop there! Tracy was the captain of the U.S. women’s swim team at the 1984 Olympics and fulfilled her dream of winning a gold medal—taking away three gold medals in one day! She was later inducting into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
6. Venus & Serena Williams- Star Tennis Players
Born in Compton, CA, these two sister-tennis stars were making a name for themselves at quite a young age. Venus went professional in 1994, at age 14 and Serena followed a year behind in 1995, also at 14—the two women were soon winning everything! Both sisters have won four gold medals in the Olympics and held the No. 1 ranking in women’s singles tennis. Venus being the first black woman to achieve this. Though they have always been phenomenal athletes, it wasn’t always easy for these women in a primarily white, European sport and they faced a lot of ridicule. But, despite the push-back they received Serena holds the most titles of any active player, male or female, and is regarded as the best female tennis player of all time.
7. Larissa Latynina- Record-Breaking Gymnast
And last, but not least, is the remarkable gymnast from the Soviet Union. After entering a training center following high school graduation, this star became an international sensation during the Rome World Champions. During the 1958 World Championships, she won five titles even though she was pregnant during the competition!! From there she went on to win medal after medal, totaling in 14 individual medals and 18 in all. She is the only woman to have won 9 gold medals.
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