Role Models...

So it would be nice if every teenage girl had a good role model. The problem is that all the 'decent' ones aren't usually on prime time TV on a Saturday night - Jessica Ennis, Serena Williams and more, tend to be on TV when kids are at school. That means that often the only option is the 'X-Factor' mob, or some of the other people on reality TV panels.

In a recent survey of teenage girls - over 80% stated that they would ideally like to 'marry a footballer'. That was more or less the extent of their aspirations. It is entirely possible that the sample was taken in areas of the country where options might be more limited. It does, however, speak volumes. Regardless, you would think that you'd have more chance of becoming an athlete than marrying your 'ideal person' - train up girls!

For my daughter, Cara Delevingne is the flavour of the month. Cara is probably a really nice girl, but does she deserve to be idolised? I am going to take some 'gentle' action.

One woman I follow is Ronda Rousey (UFC). Ok, there is a lot of debate about the morality of 'female combat' (Olympics aside) and the UFC can be a bit of a circus - but 'Roudy' Ronda is great. She's hard, trains like an animal, is tough as nails, yet still kind and sensitive. She is also a supreme athlete and, in that department at least, a great role model of kids.


Cara...Cute but you've got nothing on Ronda..


Nicole...You've got nothing on Ronda either..

Rousey has had a few 'blips' along the way - mainly in personal relationships. Who hasn't. We should cut her a break. Her father broke his back sledding with his daughters and, having learned that he would be a paraplegic, committed suicide when Rousey was only eight years old. She struggled until six years old with apraxia (unable to form intelligible sentences due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck at birth). Later, she dropped out of high-school. Yet she persevered, mainly in sport, and many years later she became the first American to win an Olympic medal in judo since its introduction as an Olympic sport in 1992.

She has been drafted in to a few movies of late and also does the 'obligatory' scantily clad photo shoots that seem to accompany all athletes these days. I just hope she stays focused on her main career.


Go Ronda...That's more like it.

On November 14th (that could be the 15th Down-Under) she fights Holly Holm in Australia, in Melbourne's 70,000 seat Etihad Stadium. It should be sold out.

I will be watching with my daughter - she's an athlete in the making. I just need to get her off her ipad..

Don't miss the start - I don't expect it to last long.