The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today announced the launch of ‘Women Who Thrive’, a new series celebrating the historical and ongoing impact of women in the sport of hockey. It features engaging video profiles and stories spotlighting influential women from hockey’s past and present. The series is part of the Women in Hockey Empowerment Project that FIH launched at its Congress last year. Episodes are available on FIH’s streaming platform Watch.Hockey (direct links: Luciana Aymar; Rani Rampal)

FIH President Tayyab Ikram emphasized the organization’s commitment, stating: “Hockey is a gender equal sport and one of our key commitments is to go even further, encouraging women to continue playing and setting the scene for others to join, accelerating opportunities for women to grow within our sport”.

In the spotlight: Icons Luciana Aymar and Rani Rampal

The series kicks off with two of hockey’s most iconic figures. Argentina’s Luciana Aymar – a four-time Olympic medallist and four-time World Cup medallist, and the only player in history to be elected FIH Player of the Year eight times! – reflects on her illustrious career. India’s Rani Rampal – former captain of the national women’s team and a veteran of over 200 international matches – also shares her inspirational story. Both athletes appear in the inaugural videos to reflect on their journeys and offer advice to the next generation. As Aymar notes: “I feel honoured that my personal story can inspire other girls to keep on playing or to join hockey. Teenage years are not easy, where lack of confidence and doubts can play a major role. I am here to remind girls that anyone can play hockey. We are all equal and worth to play this sport”.

Rampal, likewise, underscores the power of self-belief: “As a former player and now a coach I feel I have a responsibility to pass some of what hockey has given me: the passion, the confidence, the strength to overcome challenges. If I could do it, then every girl can. Until you believe in yourself, nobody will believe in you”.

The ‘Women Who Thrive’ series will continue to roll out additional episodes throughout the year, each highlighting remarkable women – players, coaches, umpires and administrators – whose leadership and dedication have helped shape hockey globally.

Honoring a century of women’s hockey

The series places these modern stories in the context of a rich history of women in the sport. In fact, women’s hockey first emerged at British universities and schools in the late 1800s. The sport grew rapidly – a separate International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations was formed in 1927 – and women’s hockey made its Olympic debut in 1980. This long legacy underscores how women’s contributions have always been integral to hockey’s development and spirit.

FIH Women’s Empowerment Project and Body Confident Sport Program

The series also highlights FIH’s ongoing efforts to advance gender equity in hockey. In late 2024, FIH launched its Women in Hockey Empowerment Project – a transformative platform to uplift and engage female players, coaches, officials and leaders in the sport. The project’s goals include identifying and addressing systemic inequalities, accelerating opportunities for girls and women to advance and lead, and celebrating successful women as role models.

A key pillar of the Empowerment Project is the Body Confident Sport programme, supported by a grant from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. This first-of-its-kind coaching toolkit – co-created by Nike and Dove – provides coaches with materials to help increase body confidence, positive body image and self-esteem among young athletes. Research shows that nearly half of girls aged 11–17 drop out of sport due to body image insecurities. Body Confident Sport aims to change this by helping girls and young people of all gender identities feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies while participating in hockey. FIH will champion the programme through its global network of coaches and member associations to maximize its reach.

Marijke Fleuren, Chair of FIH’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said: “Highlighting the challenges, successes, and lessons of our role models is essential to inspire the next generation of girls and women in hockey. The Women Who Thrive series, which shares the journeys of some of our sport’s most influential women, will serve as a powerful tool to generate confidence, motivation, and a lasting connection to hockey”.

Laureus Sport for Good’s Sara Downie commented: “We are proud to continue our partnership with FIH in our shared mission to expand opportunities for girls to play sports globally. We’re especially committed to raising the visibility of the Body Confident Sport programme—a powerful tool that supports not only athletes but also coaches in fostering positive body image and confidence in sport”.

Through the ‘Women Who Thrive’ series and its empowerment projects, FIH is reinforcing that every person – regardless of gender – is welcome in hockey and can excel in the sport. The Federation invites the hockey community and the public to follow the series and join the conversation on social media using #MadeForHockey. All related information is available on the FIH website (see madefor.hockey).

Source: FIH.hockey