Crude words cannot dim the shine of their triumphs — but they do show what more needs to be done to rewrite an old sexist script. The US women’s hockey team dominated every match they played at the recent Winter Olympics in Italy, clinching the gold in a hard-fought final — only to be reduced to a sexist punchline by their President. The callousness of the framing —that the invitation to the women was a burden to be borne —underlines sports’ persisting gender problem. Trump’s words would perhaps have been easy to dismiss, if not for the raucous laughter from his listeners. The limits of merely speaking the language of equity and inclusion are evident to anyone paying attention, from the massive pay gaps and unequal investment in infrastructure and equipment to sexualised coverage of women athletes and the persistence of the “locker-room” culture.

Source: Indian Express February 25, 2026 02:09 UTC