The Stronger Stride Podcast

280. Women in Sport: Making Running Safer with Kerry Turner

Today we’re joined by Kerry Turner, an Olympian, sports leader, and advocate for increasing women’s participation, safety, and sense of belonging in sport.

Kerry shares her journey from representing Australia in water polo to leading initiatives focused on creating more inclusive and empowering sporting environments for women and girls. We hear about her Olympic experience, the pioneering role her mother played in women’s water polo, and the changes she has witnessed across women’s sport over the years.

We also dive into the important issue of safety in running. Kerry discusses the research behind women’s experiences of safety while running, the barriers this can create to participation, and initiatives such as Run My Way and Play Her Way that are working to create more welcoming and accessible spaces for women and girls.

We discuss:

• Kerry’s journey from water polo to the Olympic Games

• Her mother’s pioneering role in women’s water polo

• The fight for women’s water polo to become an Olympic sport

• What we can do to increase participation among women and girls

• Why safety, visibility, and belonging matter in women’s sport

• The research around women’s safety and running habits

• The Run My Way and Play Her Way initiatives

• The role of media and representation in shaping women’s sport

• Mental health, body image, and the pressures facing young women

• How men can become better allies in creating safer sporting environments

  
  

This is a really important conversation about more than just getting women to participate in sport. It’s about creating environments where women and girls feel safe, welcome, represented, and worthy of being there.

Kerry’s perspective is both inspiring and practical, and this episode is a great reminder that creating change in sport isn’t just about participation numbers — it’s about building communities where people genuinely feel like they belong.

Stronger Stride Coaching: ⁠https://strongerstridecoaching.com

Find out more about Kerry's work:

https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/play-her-way

https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/play-her-way-innovation-program

https://www.instagram.com/officeofsportnsw/

Follow Us: Instagram: ⁠@strongerstride⁠ | ⁠@sophielane⁠ | ⁠@lydia_mckay⁠

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Kerry Turner's journey and work
02:42 Kerry's early sporting career and Olympic experience
08:49 Her mother's pioneering role in women's water polo
12:43 The fight for inclusion in the Olympics
17:43 The rise of women's sport in Australia
22:57 Strategies to support women and girls in sport
25:31 The Run My Way initiative and safety in running
11:04 Research findings on women's safety and running habits
27:45 The importance of male allyship and community support
22:12 Innovative programs and pilot projects for safer spaces
11:05 The future vision for women's participation in sport
32:54 Closing thoughts and call to action

Thanks for tuning in!
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