Paris 2024 was projected to be “the most gender-equal Olympics in history”, with the International Olympic Committee’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission predicting a 50:50 balance of women and men athletes. However, in January 2025, the IOC released statistics on the participation of women in Paris, which reveal that parity was not achieved:

• 47.6% of athletes were women
• 49.1% or 152 of events were women’s events compared to 157 for men
• 87% of events were gender balanced

For women coaches there was no shift from Tokyo and Rio; the percentage was stubbornly stuck at 13%! Canada’s statistics were markedly better - 19% of Olympic coaches and 31% of Paralympic coaches identified as women.

In our January 2025 issue, the Journal recognized Olympic coaches Jocelyn Barrieau and Kim Gaucher and Paralympic coaches Carolyn Murray and Nicole Ban. April 2025 features conversations with Paralympic coaches Carla Nicholls and Michèle Sung and Olympic coaches Catharine Pendrel and Laura Brown. Their openness, wisdom, commitment to developing a positive and inclusive team culture offer essential lessons for all who are dedicated to growing the ranks of women coaches in Canada. – Sheila Robertson, Journal Editor

The Conversations have been edited and condensed.

The views expressed in the articles of the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching are those of the authors and do not reflect the policies of the Coaching Association of Canada.