Her Turn
Her Turn is a regularly appearing column presented by the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee and is intended to address topics affecting female participants in our sport.
LEADING THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN IN SPORT
KATHY MATEJKA M
ore than ever before, women are finding ways to become involved in the sport of triathlon. They are competing as athletes, but also serving as race directors, coaches, volunteers and leaders. Loreen Barnett (Secretary General, International Triathlon Union), Candy Cheatham (Secretary, USA Triathlon Board of Directors) and Kathy Matejka (USA Triathlon Event Services Director) are part of a wave of women leaders at the national and international levels who know what it takes to make a commitment to multisport and to their personal and professional lives. These three women shared with USA Triathlon how they manage their time and their responsibilities to the sport, paving the way for future generations.
USA TRIATHLON: How do you balance family and your sport?
KATHY MATEJKA: Sometimes it’s a tough challenge. My family understands and respects the space that my profession occupies and generally that means limited time for spring, summer and early fall family commitments. The team at work is respectful of family needs and we support one another to fulfill job functions so time with family is truly time with family.
LOREEN BARNETT: There have been times in my ITU life when I have not been very successful at this. However, as ITU has grown and we now have such a competent staff, I have learned to trust in their abilities and have let go of many big projects as well as the day-to-day tasks that used to consume me. I really believe in making time for myself and doing things that are important in life.
CANDY CHEATHAM: I learned early in life that if I wanted to stay active in our sport and be a wife and mother, I had to get organized. I was forced to develop skills that did not come easy to me. However, these planning and organization skills have helped me in all areas of life, and I am sure they have made me a better mother, wife, sister, daughter and person.
USAT: How do you view the business of the sport with regards to women in the business of the sport?
CC: As far as women in the business of sport, my view is that the sky’s the limit. Women can do anything they want and are willing to work for. Many women have worked hard and earned respect in this field. The door is open and opportunities are waiting.
USAT: How do you view women in governance regarding the sport?
LB: Women have an advantage over men because we can acquire much of the intellectual capacity for good governance, but have the added advantage of being innately nurturing and accustomed to managing people. These are certainly attributes that men can acquire as well, but I think it is more natural for women. Interesting to see that the corporate world is starting to recognize this fact, too.
CC: Women have all the qualities that are needed for a successful leader in governance. Many women have learned in order to run a family you have to be a good listener who is flexible with strong negotiating skills and a foundation that is based on discipline and integrity. In my view, this is an area that is in need of more women in leadership roles.
This year the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee focused its resources on encouraging women to consider and prepare for positions in management and governance, and sought to better train our female members to be the best athletes — and leaders — they can be. In 2011, the committee awarded three $1,500 matching grants to USA Triathlon Certified Clubs and is conducting a three- part webinar series entitled “Women in Leadership,” designed to educate, empower and engage women in multisport. The final webinar will be held Wed., Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. EDT. To learn more about the USA Triathlon Women’s Committee, or to access an archived or upcoming webinar from the series, please visit
usatriathlon.org.
LOREEN BARNETT CANDY CHEATHAM
KM: It is hard to look to sport business and find women in positions of leadership to inspire and mentor the future generation. That said, there has been great vision and presence within the Olympic Movement with women well represented at the highest levels. I think of Anita DeFrantz and Marisol Casado as particularly inspirational in this regard.
LB: We are very fortunate that from the very beginning we laid the foundation of gender equity throughout the organization. Women have been given the opportunity to move from a volunteer role and have been able to evolve into positions of managing major areas like anti-doping, development, communications, sport administration and finance.
38 USA TRIATHLON FALL 2011
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