The 135 Challenge Blog
Today’s coverage of women’s sports lacks depth and development. We’re missing the narrative. We’re missing the characters. We’re missing the whole story.
Sports coverage needs dynamic characters.
People who love sports love more than just the game. We follow athletes and teams because we can follow the storylines. We know and identify with the characters.
Tom Brady, an underrated underdog turned top dog.
LeBron James, the redeemed king.
Cristiano Ronaldo — hero or heel?
But most people don’t know the characters in women’s sports.
Media coverage of women’s sports is so slim and surface-level that unless you are already a superfan, you probably don’t know much about even the top women athletes in the world.
Without developing the characters and narrative, it’s almost impossible for the average sports fan to become invested in the stories, the characters, and the narrative of the athletes and their teams.
With the 135 Challenge, I’m trying to change that.
For the next 135 days, I’m spotlighting one important woman in sports every damn day while training for the Badwater 135 mile race.
Many of these women inspire me, and I believe that if you knew more of their stories, they’d inspire you too.
My goal is to tell you who these athletes are—their athletic accomplishments & character archetypes—so you follow their stories, long after my race is run.
March 7th - July 19th, 2021
135 Badass women & 135 days of training for the Badwater 135.
While training for this year’s Badwater 135 footrace, I’m spotlighting 135 women in sports.
You better recognize.
Katie Ledecky - The Golden Child
Day 74/135. Katie Ledecky is a generational talent, and perhaps the most dominant mid-distance freestyle swimmer we’ve ever seen. Everything she touches turns to gold.
Simone Manuel - The Rebel
Day 52/135. Simone Manuel is fearless and fast in the pool. She swims her best times when it counts most—like the Olympic and World Championship finals, including record times in the 50m and 100m free.
Jessica Long - The Orphan
Day 33/135. Jessica Long is the most dominant paralympic swimmer in history. An unlikely hero, hers is a story of triumph, not tragedy.
Dara Torres - The Magician
Day 31/135. Dara Torres is a living legend. A timeless, ageless fixture of women’s Olympic swimming who made 2 comebacks in 28 years. She’s magic.
Missy Franklin - The Sage
Day 28/135. After her Olympic debut at age 16, Missy Franklin had 5 medals and her whole career ahead of her. But after deciding to compete in college instead of going pro, her body started to rebel.