The Power of Girls and Women in Sport
Perfectly imperfect. Deeply formative. Completely life-changing.
This past week was National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and I couldn’t think of a better time to talk about a subject that is incredibly close to my heart: the power of sport for girls and women.
Sport was a huge part of my life growing up. It taught me leadership, teamwork, how to win, how to lose — and maybe most importantly, how to keep going. As someone who was bullied when I was young, sport saved me. It gave me confidence. It gave me a team. It gave me a sense of belonging. And for that, I will forever be grateful.
Today, I had the absolute honor of welcoming an extremely special guest to the Well•ish Living with Dani Podcast: Juliet Parlette — a legendary swim coach, mentor, and dear friend — to talk about what sport really gives girls beyond the scoreboard.
Meet Juliet Parlette
Juliet began coaching in 1990 while she was still a college student herself. Over the past 35+ years, she has coached six different swim teams, earned Girls Section Coach of the Year honors in 2013 and 2014, and was nominated for State Coach of the Year.
But accolades only tell part of the story.
I met Juliet while my daughter swam on her team, and watching her coach was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The way she led, supported, challenged, and loved these girls was extraordinary. The impact she had extended far beyond the pool — and not just for my daughter, but on hundreds of young women over the years.
What Inspired Juliet to Coach?
Juliet’s coaching journey began simply — a former high school coach reached out and asked if she’d like to help. What started as an assistant role quickly became a calling.
What hooked her wasn’t just teaching swimming skills, but watching girls discover what they’re capable of.
“That ability to help swimmers see what they can do — to walk them through it from beginning to end — and then watch them grow as people and athletes… I just can’t get enough of that.”
And it showed. Anyone who stood on deck could feel it.
The Lessons Girls Learn Through Sport
Yes, girls become stronger athletes — but the real magic happens beyond the lanes.
Juliet talked about girls joining teams as timid seventh graders and leaving as confident young women ready to take on the world. Through sport, they learn:
Resilience
Determination
Leadership
Self-advocacy
Confidence
Teamwork
And perhaps most powerfully — self-worth.
“When you teach a girl she can do something she didn’t think she could do — that’s gold. A girl who knows her worth and can speak her mind? Watch out.”
One moment that always sticks with me was when my daughter, as a senior swimmer, told a younger teammate who was apologizing for being fast:
“Never apologize for being fast.”
That sentence says everything.
Girls are so often taught to shrink, soften, or apologize for excelling. Sport — when coached well — teaches them the opposite.
What’s Changed in Sports Culture?
Juliet and I talked honestly about how sports have changed over the years.
What she loves:
Girls have more opportunities than ever
Young women are increasingly confident in asking for what they deserve
All-girls teams can be incredibly supportive, kind, and powerful spaces
What she worries about:
The growing financial barriers to youth sports
The widening gap between socio-economic levels
The pressure of perfection
Sports have become an industry — and that cost can limit access for the very kids who might benefit the most.
Perfectly Imperfect: Handling Fear & Perfectionism
In true well•ish fashion, we ended by talking about perfectionism, fear, and self-compassion — something Juliet sees all the time with athletes.
Her approach? A simple but brilliant “what if” exercise.
When a swimmer is afraid, she walks them all the way through the fear:
What if you don’t finish?
What if you come in last?
What if you feel embarrassed?
Then what happens?
Eventually, the fear loses its power.
“At the end of the day, it’s a sport. Did you get in? Did you try? Did you do the race? That’s what matters.”
Final Thoughts
Sport isn’t just about winning.
It’s about becoming.
It’s about learning to trust yourself, to take up space, to try again, to fail safely, and to discover your own strength.
Juliet Parlette has spent decades giving girls those gifts — including my own children (yes, even my son, who somehow fell under her spell too).
Juliet, thank you for being not just an incredible coach, but a beautiful human and friend. And thank you for reminding us all why girls in sport matter so deeply.
Stay Well•ish 💛
Dani
