We’ve got so much time for… Andy Murray
ANDY MURRAY: Wimbledon champion, Olympic gold medalist and committed feminist ally. Last week, the 31-year-old lambasted the sports industry after Ada Hegerberg (far right) was asked if she knew how to twerk at an awards ceremony. (Apparently, that was an appropriate request for the first woman to be awarded the Ballon d’or, which recognises the world’s best football player.)
‘Another example of the ridiculous sexism that still exists in sport,’ Andy angrily wrote on Instagram. ‘ Why do women still have to put up with this s***?’ he added. ‘ What questions did they ask Mbappé and Modric? I’d imagine something to do with football.
‘And to everyone who thinks people are overreacting and it was just a joke… it wasn’t. I’ve been in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.’
It’s not the first time Andy has criticised the sports industry for its inherent prejudice; when hiring Amélie Mauresmo in 2014 as a coach, a fellow player berated his decision, stating ‘Maybe you should tell them tomorrow that you’re considering working with a dog.’ Andy was appalled, and has said that working with Amélie ‘opened his eyes’ to the issue.
‘ The amount of criticism she got in comparison to any other coach I’ve ever worked with – it’s not comparable at all,’ he added. ‘Now, when I lose a match, I get the blame. When I was working with her, it was always her fault.’
Andy, we applaud you. You’re the feminist the sports industry clearly still desperately needs.
Feminist Andy makes a point of calling out sexism in sport