Fast Girls Character Analysis

Men and women both face difficulties when it comes to competitive sports. Although men face challenges, women face bigger challenges that make it hard for them to compete. Athletes have to battle through the men and women with the power just to compete in a sport that can bring them joy. The biggest challenge female athletes face is gender inequalities, but they find their own way to push past them. In the novel, Fast Girls by Elise Hooper we can see the good and the bad within top level competitive sports. The novel switches between Olympic runners, Betty, Helen, and Louise, who all face their own challenges, but also have their time in the spotlight. All three women face gender inequalities that make it difficult to rise up in their sport,

Her mother and father wanted nothing more than to see her achieve greatness (Hooper 4). Even though Betty had support from her parents the same couldn’t be said for others around her. She received a letter from her high school principal urging her not to run with the track team, but when Betty was on her way to the Olympics she received a heart-felt letter from said principal saying his congratulations and that he always believed in her (Hooper 14-15, 18). Betty later went on to win the gold in the 1932 Olympics, but she strived for more. She feared she wouldn’t be able to compete in the Olympics again when committees believed women don’t belong in sports. Betty advocated for women in sports and even grew a following of girls that aspired to be like her one day (Hooper 79). She took every opportunity and chance she had to work harder. Betty asked to be coached by a male-only coach at Northwestern (Hooper 113). Although he wasn’t thrilled to help Betty he still gave her a chance even when he didn’t have to. Betty was in a freak plane accident and didn’t know if she still had a future in running (Hooper 180-181). Once again, she didn’t let it stop her. The second she could walk again she was ready to run. Betty did get the chance to run again in the Olympics and she didn’t let anyone down. She and her team were able to break the 4x100 relay record and win gold (Hooper