GirlsGuideTo | Daily Distraction: Nike Celebrates Title IX

I don’t know about you, but I love the Olympics. So, it’s no surprise that I’ve been counting down the days until the London Olympics (32 days away!) when we'll be able to watch the world's best athletes cycle, dive, run, volley in the sand and tumble their hearts out. With that in mind, it's amazing to think that just 40 years ago, women were the minority in sports, that is, until 1972 when Title IX—the law that equalized sports for women—was passed.

To celebrate that milestone, Nike created a short film, showcasing four legendary Olympians— Joan Benoit Samuelson, Lisa Leslie, Marlen Esparza, and Diana Taurasi. Even though I am nowhere near being an athlete (I can run in a straight line for a few miles and sometimes hit a ball at my co-ed rec softball games), but we still have so much to be thankful to these women for. What girl my age doesn’t remember the U.S. women’s soccer team winning the World Cup in 1999? I’m pretty sure that despite my lack of soccer-related skills, I wanted to be Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

And a few years ago, the night before running my first marathon, I heard Joan Benoit Samuelson. It was incredible to know that she, this woman standing in front of us, was so influential (she was the first ever women's Olympic marathon champion and still holds records at several marathons around the country)! I hope that in another 40 years, we won’t even have to celebrate the anniversary of Title IX because it will be just how life is.

Let the games begin! (Seriously Olympics, just start already!!!)

Are there any female athletes that have inspired you? Share your stories in the comments!