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.
Naomi Osaka - The Innocent
Day 124/135. Naomi Osaka has missed the French Open and Wimbledon to take care of her mental health. She’s a different kind of athlete, dominant on the court, but soft in the heart.
Martina Navratilova - The Rival
Day 109/135. Martina Navratilova is one of the all time greats of tennis. Her rivalry with Chris Evert defined and dominated tennis for over a decade. Advantage: fans.
Serena Williams - The Hero
Day 85/135. Since the start of the millennium, Serena Williams has been the most dominant and recognizable woman athlete in the world. And with 23 Grand Slam singles wins, she’s earned two other titles: Hero & GOAT.
Billie Jean King - The Hero
Day 83/135. Billie Jean King is not only one of the best tennis players of all time. She has also fought for gender equity her entire career. She beat Bobby Riggs, founded the Women’s Tennis Association, and the Women’s Sports Foundation. What can’t she do?!
Ashleigh Barty - The Magician
Day 58/135. Ashleigh Barty is the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world. At 5’5”, she may not look imposing, but she’s got some magic in her swing. She’s crafty.
Coco Gauff - The Rising Star
Day 49/135. Coco Gauff seems destined to be the next big name in tennis. At only 17 years old, she’s already played in the biggest majors, defeated some of her heroes, and spoken out for racial justice.
Maria Sharapova - The Rival
Day 38/135. Maria Sharapova was the most highly paid woman athlete and one of the biggest names in tennis. Despite her success and partly because of her controversial suspension, she will always remain a rival to Serena Williams.
Steffi Graf - The Perfect One
Day 3/135. Steffi Graf is one of the all-time greatest tennis players. With 22 Grand Slam singles titles, 377 weeks ranked No. 1, and the designation as the only player to ever win a Golden Slam (all 4 Grand Slam singles titles + Olympic Gold in the same year), Steffi Graf is perfect, but maybe too perfect.