RIO 2016: Success of Canadian women in Rio makes a big impact on young girls

Statistics show that young women aren’t sticking to organized sport as they grow up, but with the recent success of many women at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, many are hoping that will change. Canada is bringing home 22 medals, 16 of which were won by women.

But according to the Women’s Sports Foundation, by age 14 girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys due to puberty, body changes and lack of physical education in schools.

According to the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) only 19 per cent of Canadian women participate in sport compared to 35 per cent of Canadian men.

Alyssa Clairmont began her athletic career as a gymnast, but decided it wasn’t for her.

“I was really young and they asked me to go during school times, and I didn’t want to, so I let it go.”

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But now she is a diver, and dreams of diving in the Olympics.

READ MORE: Rio 2016: Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion win synchronized diving bronze

She says watching athletes like Meaghan Benfeito and Rosie Filion who have multiple Olympic medals is very motivating.

The pair won bronze for their synchronized 10 metre platform and Benefeito won bronze for her solo dives in the Women’s 10 metre platform.

READ MORE: Rio 2016: Montrealers celebrate Meaghan Benfeito’s bronze medal

Alyssa’s mother, Trina, says both of her daughters take part in competitive sport and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It keeps us busy.”

Trina say’s she would rather have them in sport than not, where they are focusing on something positive.

“I think it’s made them strong girls…a lot of teenagers, girls especially tend to look outside themselves for validation, but I think girls in sport tend to have this strength where they don’t need that outside approval, because they know that they’re strong and they’ve felt themselves accomplish their goal. They’re a bit more confident,” added Trina.

READ MORE: Rio 2016: ‘Golden Penny’ leads Canada in and out of Summer Games

Alyssa’s Coach, Laura Desautels is the head coach at the Regina Diving Club and she say’s the Olympics are great for the sport.

“After the Olympics year our registration skyrockets,” Desautels said.

She added that within the Regina Diving Club and other sports organizations puberty age is a common time to decide whether or not an athlete will seriously pursue the competitive stream as a teenager.

She’s hoping as a result of all the women’s medals, more girls decide to stick to sport.

“I think it gives the young Canadian girls a new motivation.”

Lisa Hoffart is a Mental Performance Consultant for the Saskatchewan Sports Medicine and Science Council, she says there are many factors that can weigh in on the decision.

“Once they’re in that sport its things like making friends, having good coaches and having role models in their day to day life that helps them to stay engaged in sport.”

That’s is exactly the type of coaching style Desautels enforces.

“I want them to go out with good self esteem, positive body image, just having those skills, and learning proper nutrition and getting an understanding of the psychology.”

Involvement in sport teaches young girls much more than how to be active, it’s a jumping off point for core principles and characteristics.

“Setting goals, dealing with different distractions that they come up against, just developing that mental toughness,” Hoffart said.

Mental toughness is what young Clairmont already has.

“If I don’t do as well as I thought I would, I don’t get super mad at it I just think okay, now I have room for improvement.”

Mom, Trina says she is very proud of the Olympic athletes, and how its impacting her own daughters, but isn’t sure if they understand the whole picture.

As women continue to dominate the diving board, the swimming pool, and sports in general, the next generation will continue to notice.