Dear Readers,

In Part 2 of "Celebrating the Influential Women of 2023," we focus on two pivotal realms where women have made extraordinary strides: "Champions in Sports and Physical Achievement" and "Pioneers in Science and Technology." This section illuminates the dynamic women who have pushed boundaries in these fields.

Champions in Sports and Physical Achievement highlights exceptional athletes who have not only achieved greatness in their respective sports but have also become symbols of resilience, empowerment, and breaking barriers.

Pioneers in Science and Technology showcases women at the forefront of scientific innovation and technological advancement, demonstrating their critical contributions to these rapidly evolving fields.

Join us as we delve into the inspiring stories of these remarkable women, each leaving an indelible mark on the world through their achievements and courage.

Champions in Sports and Physical Achievement:

2023 has crowned Simone Biles as the most decorated gymnast of all time, solidifying her status as a legend, at least in terms of her achievements. However, she had already become a legend in everyday life back in 2021, when she held a press conference to announce her withdrawal from the Olympic Games to focus on her mental health. Two years later, she became the first female gymnast to perform the incredibly difficult Yurchenko double pike vault. She soared as high as possible and landed back on her feet in just one second and eighteen hundredths in the floor exercise. "Now I do it for myself," she declared in August. That's the legend.

Two minutes and eleven seconds: that's the time that catapulted 26-year-old Ethiopian athlete Tigist Assefa into the Athletics Hall of Fame. On September 24 in Berlin, she set a new record for the women's marathon, completing the 42 kilometers and 195 meters in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, breaking the previous record held by Kenya's Brigid Kosgei of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds. Assefa's athletic journey is nothing short of remarkable: born in Addis Ababa, she initially specialized in the 800 meters, even competing in this event at the Rio Olympics. Then came a significant shift: starting in 2022, she decided to "go the distance," training for marathons. Incredibly, in just one year, a brief time in this specialty, she claimed the crown in the discipline by setting a new record and astonishing everyone. This is a significant milestone for an athlete who has started to turn heads and will arrive at the next Paris Olympics as a champion.

Serena Jameka Williams defies easy categorization, always eluding any label. Until she was defeated by Tomljanović 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 in the third round of the US Open on September 3, 2022, Serena Williams was not just any tennis player but arguably the greatest of all time with her 23 Grand Slam titles, just one short of Margaret Court but achieved in a far more competitive and broad era of the sport. But how do we define her today? Certainly, as a former champion, also as the wife of digital entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and mother to Olympia and Adira, an entrepreneur herself (launching her clothing line S by Serena in 2018), and a survivor: of the Compton ghetto in Los Angeles, of her visionary father Richard, and of a life-threatening blood clot caused by her first childbirth. Stepping away from the public eye in 2023, Serena Williams chose to focus on motherhood, yet the public continues to keep a keen interest in her life. She was named the Fashion Icon 2023 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, receiving an award akin to an Oscar in the fashion world from Kim Kardashian at the Natural History Museum of New York. This was a first for an athlete. But Serena has always been, and will always be, unlike any other.

Dame Sarah Storey, a Paralympic legend and subject of my book “Ride On! Dame Sarah Storey's Extraordinary Journey of Triumph,” is not only a record-breaking athlete but also a committed activist for women in sports and sustainable living. Currently training for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she has used her platform to champion more accessible and environmentally friendly travel in her role as the Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester. Her advocacy extends beyond the sports arena, focusing on creating inclusive, livable urban spaces and promoting cycling and walking for better health and sustainability. Storey's story is one of resilience and determination, proving that athletic excellence can drive significant societal progress.

In an ideal world, Jenni Hermoso would be celebrated solely for her footballing prowess, especially her pivotal role in Spain's triumph at the 2023 Women's World Cup, where she clinched the Silver Ball. However, the reality is that women's lives are often marred by male violence. Hermoso's story will be remembered not only for her football achievements but also for her stand against non-consensual advances from Luis Rubiales, the then-president of the Spanish Football Federation, leading to an accusation of sexual violence. With her bravery, Hermoso forced the Football Federation to confront sexism, becoming a symbol for women (and men) worldwide and igniting a crucial debate not just in football but in society at large.

Pioneers in Science and Technology:

If one word could encapsulate the extraordinary journey and ultimate triumph of Katalin Kariko, it would be perseverance. The 68-year-old Hungarian Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine, known for her pioneering work on mRNA vaccines, has a life story that reads like a movie script. As her biography, “Breaking Through: My Life in Science,” narrates, she is the “daughter of a butcher from a communist country,” who immigrated to the USA, where she faced rejection from academic positions, landing only at the lowest rungs. It wasn’t until nearly the age of 60 that her discoveries in mRNA technology helped the world emerge from the pandemic. Recently, a planet has even been named in her honor, a fitting tribute to her monumental contributions.

Originally from Michigan and trained as a physical engineer, Christina Koch joined NASA in 2002 as an astrophysicist. In April, she was selected for the astronaut team that will be part of the Artemis 2 mission, marking humanity's return to the Moon. Notably, she will be the first woman to walk on the lunar surface. Her upcoming mission to the Moon is set to add another historic milestone to her already impressive career in space exploration. However, this isn't her first groundbreaking achievement: Koch holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, having spent 328 days aboard the International Space Station between 2019 and 2020. Alongside her colleague Jessica Meir, she also completed the first all-female spacewalk, further cementing her legacy in the history of space exploration.

Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has played a crucial role in the development and proliferation of ChatGPT, the chatbot that has sparked a revolution in generative artificial intelligence. Born in Albania in 1988 and holding a degree in mechanical engineering, Murati's interest in new technology was sparked during her three-year stint at Tesla, where she worked on the Autopilot autonomous driving software. Her journey to OpenAI saw her rapidly rise to become the second most important figure after the CEO. She led the launch of both ChatGPT and Dall-E. A strong advocate for the regulation of artificial intelligence, Murati believes that the ethical and philosophical questions, as well as the social impact of this technological revolution, are critical. She emphasizes the importance of government involvement, in addition to that of the producing companies, in shaping the future of AI.

As we wrap up Part 2 of "Celebrating the Influential Women of 2023," we've journeyed through the realms of sports and science, meeting women who redefine limits and inspire us all. Their stories of triumph, resilience, and groundbreaking discoveries remind us that every challenge faced is a step towards progress and empowerment.

What impact do you think these extraordinary women will have on future generations? Share your thoughts below and let's keep the conversation going. Spread the word about these inspiring figures by sharing this story on social media.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we will delve into the world of Arts and Culture, uncovering the creative and influential contributions of women who are shaping our cultural landscape.

S.A. Sterling

Source: Le Donne del 2023 secondo il Corriere della Sera, La Ventisettesima Ora, Corriere della Sera, December 2023, https://www.corriere.it/cronache/donne-anno-2023/index.shtml