How many times have you heard statements like "Athletics is too strenuous for women." or "Hurdling is not good enough for women." or "Women will develop huge muscles by putting the shot or throwing the discus," or "Childbirth and fertility are adversely affected by hard training."

"Old Wives' Tales"

Fortunately these ideas are gradually dying out. Recently, a well-known coach, Percy Cerutty, perpetuated these "old wives' tales" while on a visit to New Zealand. It was unforgivable for Mr Cerutty to do this as he is in a very influential position and many people would be led to believe him and wrongly so.

These prejudices are not scientifically based and when scientific evidence is considered the question of women in athletics takes on a completely different complexion.

The evidence shows that women athletes have less trouble with childbirth than do women generally. In the last Olympics there were several women competing, who were in different stages of pregnancy, and had no ill effects from this top-class competition.

Strenuous training has no bad effects on fertility. Menstruation does not seem to be affected by athletics, as was shown when six gold medals were won in the last Olympics by women in their periods.

There are many other branches of women's sport where the competition is hard and the training is strenuous e.g. basketball, hockey, swimming, where it is thought quite normal for women to participate and yet the effort required is similar to that in athletics.

No Masculine Characteristics

The women athlete will not develop masculine characteristics The possibility of any change in the hormone balance due to strenuous competition is fictitious.

Some unknowledgeable people decry weight training for women, without any understanding or insight into the reasons for this type of training. Practically every athlete should do weight training and neglect of this important facet of athletics will result in poorer personal achievements. The primary idea involved in this training is to increase the strength of the individual. The first schedules should aim at general harmonious development and later some specialised work can be done.

There is no reason why women should not do weight training, as do men, except that the weights used might be lighter.

Emphasis must be laid on precaution, when weight training—or for that matter any athletic training—is started. The advice of an experienced coach should be obtained because there are many types of schedules and exercises, some of which are of little use to the athlete. Progress will be gradual and no attempt should be made to lift heavy weights too early.

Weight Training Invaluable

The benefits of weight training are invaluable. Besides the increasing of strength, there is a much greater feeling of confidence in the athlete. Any physical weakness is corrected and the risk of injury is greatly reduced.

"Being muscle bound" is a fallacy associated with weight training and lifting. In fact, the weight trainer is more supple, dexterous and has a quicker reaction time than the ordinary run of people.

Most probably, the prejudice against women in athletics is merely a cultural one, since there is no scientific evidence to support the old wives' tales. No women should be apprehensive about taking up athelties, or afraid of training hard because of these old bogies. The fact is that, in general, women are more robust than men, and can bear a greater strain.

Is it that the male's feelings of inferiority are manifested in these prejudices? After all, how many men can run the 100 yards in 10.3, put the women's shot 55 feet, or high-jump 6 feet—which are the present women's records!

B.G.R.