Professor Elizabeth Pike Receives Prestigious 2024 Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Champions Global Award from the International Olympic Committee

Elizabeth Pike, Professor of Sport, Health and Exercise at University of Hertfordshire, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions World/Global Award, one of six accolades given each year by the IOC.

Announced as part of the IOC’s International Women’s Day celebrations, Professor Pike is the first-ever UK recipient of this award.

Since its inception in 2000, the IOC has recognised outstanding contributions toward gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in the world of sports, with past recipients including National Olympic Committees, Olympians, and global trailblazers like Billie Jean King. Professor Pike, a recognised advocate for women in sport, has devoted over 30 years to advancing opportunities for women at all levels of sport.

Professor Pike was nominated for this honour due to her significant contributions to the global sports landscape with her work instrumental in creating lasting, transformative changes for women in sport. Notable initiatives include co-developing the Women in Sport High Performance pathway (WISH) and the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy, which have jointly seen more than 600 women from over 70 countries graduate.

She co-founded the Anita White Foundation in 2011 since when she has supported women in the global south, including co-creating a fund to support women sport leaders to promote the advancement of gender equity. Furthermore, she has made significant contributions to the academic study of the sociology of sport, particularly related to social inclusion and gender equity in and through sport.

During her early career, having witnessed gender imbalance in sport, Professor Pike was motivated to challenge the status quo. She decided to pursue a PhD in women’s sport, addressing areas such as the lack of research on injuries in female athletes, which had historically been overlooked.

While progress has been made in the global north, Professor Pike emphasises that challenges remain, particularly in the global south. Since the Brighton Declaration in 1994, issues related to women in sport continue to be addressed, but she believes that we are at a pivotal point in history. "There has been significant progress in many countries thanks to the advocacy work of international women and sport organisations, but there remain complex issues regarding the systemic changes that are required for full gender equity to be addressed," she says.

In accepting the award, Professor Pike expressed her gratitude for the incredible people she has had the privilege of working with. She acknowledged the progress that has been made, noting the IOC's new motto, Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together, and how the added “together” resonates deeply with her mission to foster inclusion and collaboration.

Reflecting on her career, Professor Pike shares advice for younger athletes and coaches: “Surround yourself with a strong team, learn from others, step out of your comfort zone, support your peers, and use platforms like social media to connect and grow.”

The IOC’s recognition of Elizabeth Pike is a testament to her tireless work in advocating for gender equality in sport and supporting future generations of women athletes and leaders.

Read more about the University of Hertfordshire’s sports courses.