Women in Sports Week: Celebrating Female Sporting Excellence

This week, UCS is proud to host its annual Women in Sports Week, a celebration of female achievement and a platform to ignite a passion for physical activity amongst all our sixth-form girls.

2024 marked a landmark year for gender equality in sports. For the first time in Olympic history, 50% of all competing athletes were women. Women in Sports Week is a time to acknowledge their triumphs, but more importantly, to inspire all our girls to embrace the joys of physical activity and discover their inner athletes. Our aptly named “50 Challenge” will see each Games lesson incorporate an activity centred around the number 50, a playful nod to this momentous occasion.   

With the help of our esteemed Games patrons, a roster of expert coaches, and dedicated teachers, our pupils will be aiming to achieve feats like 50 netball goals in a tournament, 50 lengths in the pool, or even holding a yoga pose for 50 seconds!

Beyond the 50 Challenge, this week is a chance to celebrate the incredible achievements of UCS’s own female athletes. These young women are shining stars, both on and off the field:

Sophie Mehra: Sophie is part of Team GB for fencing at U20 and Senior level and has represented her country at multiple World Cups. She consistently ranks amongst the U20’s top 12 fencers nationally and recently claimed the title of British U18 Vice-Champion.

Avantika Varghese: Avantika has been honing her skills in JiuJitsu since the tender age of seven. Muay Thai and MMA were added to her repertoire not long after, showcasing her exceptional dedication and versatility.

Maddy Horsell: Maddy’s sporting journey began in year 5 and continues to this day. Her unwavering commitment to the sport has seen her compete for prestigious clubs like London Pulse, all while excelling in school matches and setting her sights on university netball.

Giorgia Mills: Giorgia’s talents were evident from year 3. Her impressive record includes playing for London Pulse and being selected for Saracen Mavericks U18. Currently, Giorgia captains the UCS 1st Team while also representing Cumberland Netball Club.

These are just a few examples of the exceptional young women who are paving the way for future generations of female athletes at UCS.