The image of Lioness Chloe Kelly celebrating her 2022 Euro-winning goal by zipping around the Wembley turf in her sports bra, propelling her shirt above her head, was an iconic and symbolic turning point in women’s sport. It marks the team’s first major tournament win, yes, and also a shift in the sorts of conversations we’re having surrounding female athletes and the accessibility of physical activity to women.
The morning after the iconic photo was captured, England players collectively penned a letter to Conservative Party leader candidates at the time, Liz Truss and now PM Rishi Sunak, asking them to ensure that all girls have access to a minimum of two hours of PE per week. Meanwhile, Kelly’s sports bra cele spilt into the conversations of TV hosts and households far beyond the confines of our country, with many praising the powerful message it conveys: sport is ours to play too.
