Us Girls Champions

All of our Us Girls Champions share the StreetGames desire to give young women the chance to enjoy sport and be active, regardless of their economic background. Their role is to champion the Us Girls programme and help to encourage other girls and young women to be inspired to take up sport.

Our Champions provide varying support to the programme including linking to us on Twitter and Facebook, visiting Us Girls projects in their local area, appearances at Us Girls Festivals and events, raising awareness of the programme and generally championing our cause amongst their network of contacts.

“Our innovative Us Girls programme will inspire a generation of young women to get back into and enjoy sport in a way that fits around their lifestyle.” Diane Modahl, StreetGames Ambassador.

Our Champions

Sarah Stevenson MBE - Taekwondo Champion

Two-time world champion and Olympic medallist Sarah Stevenson got into taekwondo after accompanying her older brother to his taekwondo club at the age of seven, where she fell in love with the sport. “What I loved about it was just being part of something different and special. What was everyone else doing after school? I was in a club and I had a different team, my own family. It is like a family. It’s your own little thing.”

Sarah started competing all over the world, including the World Championships, European Championships and the Olympic games in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. Sarah has now formally retired from competing and has taken on a role on the GB Coaching team. “I am delighted I have been accepted onto the coaching team so I can help put that into the athletes we have now and the next generation."

What Sarah says about Us Girls

Quote: "I'm so happy to be involved with US Girls. It's an amazing project to get girls involved in sport especially those from deprived areas. I believe that together we can help girls with not only health and fitness but with self-esteem, confidence and a wide range of issues. By using strong, confident women like myself, we can help to change our girls lives for the better, with the use of sport, health and fitness."

Read all about Sarah's sporting life here >

Fran Leighton - GB Water Polo

From a family of international waterpolo players, Fran Leighton has polo in her blood. The pinnacle of Fran's career came in captaining the GB women's team to the quarter finals at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Alongside her Olympic achievement, Fran has a commonwealth medal and a European title, has played professionally in Australia and is the most capped female player in the history of the British game.

What Fran says about Us Girls

“I simply love being part of a team and giving it my all. Sport has taught me so much about leadership, team work and friendship. To be part of the Us Girls scheme and ensure that others have opportunities in sport is very important to me and something that I feel proud to represent”

Kate Grey - Paralympic Swimmer

Kate lost her left hand an accident when she was 2 years old. At the age of 4 her parents encouraged her to learn to swim; it was a daunting task for Kate who was afraid of deep water and struggled to balance with one hand but she persevered and went on to swim regularly at her local club.

Kate never let her disability hold her back, and alongside club swimming she also pursued a number of other sports including netball, athletics, tennis and horse riding. At the age of 10 she was offered the chance to compete in her first disability swimming competition. To her surprise, Kate did well at the competition and she went on to qualify for the National Championships.

In 2002, aged just 13, Kate was earmarked as a potential Paralympian and she has been representing Great Britain ever since. Kate's proudest moment in her career so far was representing GB at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics where she came 5th in the 100m Breaststroke S9 category. Kate then went on to win a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and a bronze in the 100m I.M at the World Championships in Rio 2009.

Kate came agonisingly close to qualifying for the London 2012 Paralympics, but due to unfortunate timing of illness Kate missed out by the tiniest of margins. However she still has the hunger to achieve her dream of winning a Paralympic medal and will continue on in the hopes of competing at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.

What Kate says about Us Girls

“The projects that ‘Us girls’ provide for young girls can really make a difference; The issues that they address within the projects such as self confidence and body image are issues that I can really relate to and have experienced throughout my life as a girl and an elite athlete. Taking part in physical activity can help you discover your full potential and more importantly have fun”

Elena Baltacha - British Tennis Player

Professional tennis player Elena Baltacha is a four-time winner of the AEGON Award, has won ten ITF singles titles and four ITF doubles titles. In 2010, Elena had victories over top 10 players, including two victories over Li Na and one against Francesca Schiavone, who at the time was the reigning French Open champion. In 2011, Baltacha won her highest ranked tournament of the ITF tour winning the 2011 AEGON Nottingham Challenge. Elena is playing for Team GB during London 2012

What Elena says about Us Girls

“The Us Girls project is a wonderful opportunity for young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to try out new sports
especially in this Olympic year."

www.elena-baltacha.com

Lucy Adams - UK Number 1 Female Skateboarder

UK number 1 female skateboarder Lucy Adams has been skateboarding for over 15 years and travelled far and wide representing the UK in World Cup Skateboarding events and European championships. In 2012 Lucy has won the Vans UKSA National Skateboard Championships 2012, Girls Skate Jam UK at Pioneers, St Albans, came 3rd in the Women's Get, Set, Go Contest in Malmo, Sweden and 5th at NASS Workd Cup of Skateboarding. Lucy also featured in the first UK all female skateboard video As If, And What? and also works as a skateboard coach in her spare time.

What Lucy says about Us Girls

"Us Girls is a great scheme that I’m stoked to be able to support as it is opening doors for young girls to get involved in sports and physical activities. Us Girls looks to support girls that are risk of dropping out of sport and helps to widen the net of opportunity. I hope together we can inspire a generation of girls to try something different - maybe even get on a board."

YouTube Clips

LA Alliance 2012 »
Lucy Adams Skateboarding 2006 - 2010 »
Lucy Adams Guildford 10 Tricks »

Sophie Cox - Judo Athlete

Sophie is a multiple Olympian, having competed for Team GB at London 2012 in the 52kg category and Athens 2004 in the 57kg category. Sophie is also two time European silver medallist, two time European bronze medallist, six time British champion, two time British Open champion and 2011 Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year.

What Sophie says about Us Girls

"The Us Girls initiative is a fantastic project and the people behind it deserve as much respect and support as we can give. For girls in deprived areas to be given an opportunity to express themselves or just be themselves in a worthwhile way, well it will mean a lot to a lot of people. I've been lucky in some of the opportunities I've been given but have still often had to battle against the social norms, and sport, health and fitness should be accessible to all. Oh, and fun."

Tammy Waine - Footballer at Brighton and Hove Albion Women FC

Tammy started playing football at the age of 12 and was involved with the England ladies senior squad in 1996/97. In 1998 Tammy won a soccer scholarship to Auburn University in Alabama USA where she spent four incredible years playing and studying. During her Auburn University career she set the season record for goals and points in a season, a record that still stands.

On returning to England Tammy played semi professionally with Fulham Ladies Football Club where they competed in the Women’s UEFA Cup and reached the Community Shield and League Cup Final.

Tammy now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion Women and also coaches at the Brighton and Hove Albion Girls Centre of Excellence.
Aside from this Tammy has also run two marathons and loves weight training – both of which led her to become a personal trainer.

What Tammy says about Us Girls

"Everything I have achieved in life has been through sport! Sport has taken me to some amazing countries, work with some amazing coaches and players and has provided me with many life skills which have allowed me to succeed in both my sporting and working life. Us Girls is a fantastic scheme which I wanted to support as soon as I heard about it! Sport can open up so many opportunities and this scheme will help many more girls not only access sport, but hopefully fall in love with sport."

Laura Massaro - England Squash Player

Professional Squash player Laura Massaro won her first top level title at the German Open in 2004 and has since gone onto win numerous awards including Silver in the women's doubles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the US Open and Cleveland Classic in 2011 along with the British National Squash Championship in 2011.

What Laura says about Us Girls

"Us Girls is an amazing project helping women in disadvantaged areas get into sport. I'm excited to be part of the project and look forward to joining in with Us Girls in the future".

www.lauramassaro.co.uk

Alison Waters - Professional Squash Player

Professional Squash player Alison Waters won her first major squash tournament, the British Under-12 title at the age of nine and a half then retained the title the following year. Alison went onto win her first professional title in 2005 at the Forbes Open, she represented England at the Commonwealth Games 2006/2010, is highest ranking world number 3 and is National Champion winner 2008/2010.

What Alison says about Us Girls

"What a great campaign Us Girls is, anything to get girls playing sport is a winner in my books. As a professional squash player sport has been and is my life and it's great to know that there is support and help out there to get girls involved in playing sport"

www.alisonwaters.co.uk

Jemima Yeats-Brown - Judo Blackbelt

Judo Black Belt Jemima is ranked World No. 3 (Cadet). After competing in Malta she became the Under 17 Cadet European Champion. Jamima also recently came 5th in the Under 20 World Championships in Cape Town. She was ranked number two senior in GB aged 16 in 2011 after winning the Heart of England, Irish and Welsh Open Championships. Last year she represented GB in 14 different countries. Her aim is to represent GB and win gold in the 2012/2016 Olympics. She is currently on the Olympic Squad.

Jemima has now been given a young ambition place at the Olympics for potential 2016 Olympians.

Training is going well and following a great competition in the Czech Republic, she came 5th in a Senior World ranked field beating top players from Germany, Holland and Spain. Jemima has up and coming competitions in Hungary, Poland and Germany.

"I think the programme is good because it makes people more aware of all women in sport and shows the variety of sports available for all women including those with a disability or disadvantages. I am proud to have been part of it and to meet other women and talk about what they have achieved in their sport".

Lucy Wray - Professional Lacrosse Player

Lucy Wray has represented Wales at two World Cups during 2005 and 2009. Lucy is now the current captain of Wales who are the European Champions. Lucy is also CEO of MBN Promotions which is the leading provider of sporting lunches and dinners in the UK.

What Lucy says about Us Girls

"Us Girls is a fantastic initiative and I am really keen to give it as much support as possible. Going on tour to the States for lacrosse has opened my eyes to how much better female participation in sport and facilities for females are across the water and it is about time that the UK woke up. Giving girls the opportunity to get involved in sport, whatever their background, is vital. Sport teaches you so much about being a good person - discipline, friendship, commitment, team spirit etc".

www.mbnpromotions.co.uk

Jackie Diss - Women's Wellness Experts & Ambassador

Jackie has been in the fitness industry for over 14 years and has taught at conventions throughout Europe, the USA and Australia. Jackie has appeared on many popular Fitness DVD's including 'Beach Bum' Workout, 'Dance X - The Workout' and 'The Workout Mix 2012' and has her own Home Workout Series and app.

With professional and personal experience regarding weight loss and obesity Jackie now writes for many magazines such as bodyfit & slim at home offering guidance, personal training and support to many readers.

Jackies main passion is to help women feel good about their bodies inside and out, encouraging women to be strong, healthy and confident.

What Jackie says about Us Girls

"Us Girls not only offers amazing activites for young women to try, they also offer a support network. Us Girls 100% proves fitness can be fun, rewarding and give the motivation and inspiration to help young women move forward to become strong healthy confident women"

Contact Jackie: www.jackiediss.co.uk or email jackiediss [at] hotmail [dot] com

Be part of it

As part of our #girlstimetomakeithappen campaign we are seeking to identify more Us Girls Champions and put meaningful role models into community sport settings to inspire belief and confidence in young women

Click here to find out more about what being an Us Girls Champion means >>

If you are interested in becoming an Us Girls Champions please contact us on activewomen [at] streetgames [dot] org (subject: Us%20Girls%20Champions) or call us on 0845 1300 849.