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Despite historic achievements across women’s athletics in recent years, female sports figures continue to encounter severe online harassment, personal stalking, and death threats. While competitions such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup and European Championships drew record engagement, athletes report that public hostility outside the arena presents a persistent secondary strain on their careers.
Scrutiny Over Appearance and Impact on Young Athletes
The boundary between performance critiques and personal harassment frequently blurs over physical appearance. Wales and Saracens rugby player Georgia Evans faced intense online mockery simply for wearing hair ribbons during a World Cup match. Rather than ignoring the hostility, Evans addressed the online attacks directly through a statement on social media, emphasizing that physical presentation does not define athletic capability.
“This game allows space and room for every boy and girl, whatever their haircut, body shape or look they wish to wear on and off the field. ‘It’s not a rugby look’ – a rugby player is no longer defined by your gender or what you look like.’It’s childish’ – but to all those young girls it’s understanding you don’t have to compromise who you are to fit into a stereotype,” Evans stated. She added: “In an old-school, man’s game, I’m bringing a bit of Barbie to the party.” Her statement sparked a wave of support, with fans wearing ribbons to subsequent matches in solidarity.
The impact of relentless judgment extends beyond active professionals. A survey by the charity Women In Sport revealed that only 23 percent of teenage girls currently aspire to become professional athletes, compared to 53 percent of boys. The study highlighted concerns over body image, personal safety, and social judgment as key deterrents preventing young women from pursuing athletics.
Former Wimbledon champion and broadcaster Marion Bartoli told Sky Sports that social media pressures are causing severe mental strain on young competitors. Bartoli recalled facing public commentary about her own physical appearance on national television immediately after her 2013 Wimbledon victory, noting how deeply such personal attacks can damage an athlete’s confidence.
Gambling-Driven Threats and Stalking Incidents
Beyond commentary on appearances, female competitors increasingly face safety threats from obsessive fans and disgruntled gamblers. A joint investigation by the Women’s Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation revealed that 458 tennis players were targeted with direct abuse in 2024, with approximately 40 percent originating from individuals involved in sports betting.
Several high-profile players, including Katie Boulter, Elina Svitolina, Jessica Pegula, and Jodie Burrage, have reported receiving explicit messages and death threats following matches. In one extreme incident at the Indian Wells tournament, Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini received explicit death threats via WhatsApp prior to a qualifying match.
“I received a WhatsApp message in which I was threatened over winning yesterday’s match. They threatened me and my family and named my parents, the place where I was born, and they sent me a photo of a gun,” Stefanini said when recounting the incident.
Physical security has also been compromised at venues. British player Emma Raducanu required court-side security intervention during the Dubai Tennis Championship after being pursued across multiple countries by an obsessive individual, who was later issued a restraining order. Bartoli shared a similar personal experience from the 2007 Wimbledon tournament, where a stalker disguised himself as staff to gain access to her court.
Major Tournaments and Digital Mitigation Efforts
International competitions often trigger spikes in targeted hostility. Data from FIFA indicated that one in five players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup received abusive or threatening online content, representing a 29 percent higher risk than players experienced at the 2022 men’s tournament. Furthermore, threat monitoring firm Moonshot identified 3,000 hostile social media posts aimed at the England squad during the 2025 European Championship final.
The abusive environment led England defender Jess Carter to step away from social platforms during the tournament. Legal consequences have occasionally followed; earlier this year, a 60-year-old man received a suspended 12-week prison sentence after admitting to sending racially abusive content to Carter online.
In response, athletes are increasingly adopting privacy controls to shield themselves from public feeds. England cricketer Sophia Dunkley explained to Sky Sports that restricting social media comment settings to approved followers has become a vital strategy for maintaining focus during major events.
While some athletes, such as top-ranked golfer Charley Hull, choose to disregard online comments entirely, sports organizations face growing demands to safeguard competitors. The consensus among female sports leaders remains clear: expanding visibility must be paired with stronger protections for athlete wellbeing and personal security.
