Everyone knows the Nike SWOOSH. It’s synonymous with athletic gear, stylish sneakers, a quality produc, and winning. Do you know where the SWOOSH originated? Don’t go and Google it because I am going to tell you. I got curious myself and decided to do some poking around.

Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. She presided over the earliest battlefields, and since the 1928 Summer Olympic Games, every Olympic medal bears Nike's figure holding a palm frond in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. The Nike SWOOSH came about in 1971. It represents the wing of the Greek goddess Nike. OK, enough with my history lesson. All this made me think more about being a goddess. You heard me. Every woman is a goddess and should be treated like one.

The entire history of women’s athletics is one of struggle. There was a constant struggle for recognition, parity and respect. In the early days, every time a woman stepped on the field, court, or track, she was taking one step forward for women who came after her. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, voted Greatest Female Athlete of the first half of the 20th century by the Associated Press, competed with the boys, and crushed them.

Everyone knows about Billie jean King’s legendary “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in the early 1970’s. It was not just a match. It was a battle and I am sure Nike was watching over Billie Jean that day. Every time I lace up my Nike’s, I do think about the women before me. They were told not to compete and to be complacent and silent. Those who dared to compete were goddesses. I dare you to tell me not to complete.

It’s important to understand the history of women’s athletics so young women like me, and the ones after me, can appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that allow us to compete today.

-Delia Glover