Supporting growth of female coaches

World Sailing is now accepting applications for the Women in Sport High Performance Pathway (WISH) Program, a unique initiative designed to increase female representation in elite sport coaching at Olympic, World Championship, and other major event level.

First organized as a pilot in 2019, the WISH Program has been developed in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and supported by Olympic Solidarity, and helps equip women coaches with the skills, confidence, and leadership competencies needed to thrive at the highest levels of performance.

The WISH Program is intended for female coaches who are already a part of, or have the potential to be a part of, a national delegation to the Regional and/or Continental Games, World Championships, Youth Olympic Games, or Olympic Games in a sport on the Summer or Winter Olympic Games Sport Program.

Since its inception, WISH has tackled the persistent gender gap in high performance coaching. While gender participation among athletes at the Olympic Games now sits at parity, the representation of female coaches has lagged behind in most sports – at just 13%.

To date, more than 125 women from 22 sports and 60 countries have participated in WISH, gaining access to leadership development, sport-specific mentoring, and international networks that supercharge their coaching careers. World Sailing has supported five coaches in previous editions.

“This year’s opportunity is more than training, it’s a chance for the next generation of women leaders in sport that need access, opportunity and support. WISH provides exactly that,” said Fiona Kidd, World Sailing’s Head of International Development.

“The program seeks to address the disparity in female coaches at the highest level by building a pipeline of talented women ready to lead, develop and empower athletes on the global stage. MNA’s and aspiring coaches are encouraged to explore the program and consider nominations and applying today.”

For more information about the 21-month program, click here.

How to apply:
Send your coaching and sailing CV along with a one-page cover letter outlining:
• Why you want to apply for the WISH Program
• What the WISH Program can do for you
• What you want to get out of the WISH Program

Submit by March 12 to training@sailing.org.