02/01/2022
Today marks the first day of Black History Month. This month, we'll for four incredible changemakers and grant recipients of The Power of She Fund, dedicated to fostering confidence and connection through movement. Every week, we'll learn who and what inspired each woman's love of sport, art, and the outdoors, and why they've chosen to build for the next generation.
To start, we welcome Michelle Grady. As the Founder and Executive Director of , Michelle is committed to inspiring, educating, and supporting women of color on their journey towards living a healthy lifestyle through the sport of triathlon.
“I was watching Wide World of Sports with my dad, and they were covering Ironman World Championship in Kona. They covered the pros, but they also highlighted regular people. I remember their stories were so inspirational, but I never saw the sport of triathlon in my community.
When I crossed the finish line of my first race, I burst into tears. I felt so accomplished and empowered. I realized at that moment, I came from doing nothing to swimming, riding, and running. To look around and not see a face that looked like mine, understanding the challenges Black women face to be in this space, I really wanted other Black women to feel that. You can really develop as an empowered woman through sport. There is a connection between the physical, the mental, the emotional. And in our program, multi-generational training allows women and girls to learn from each other. The sport itself is so community-based, encouraging.
I would want my legacy to be that RYPE is an organization that continues to grow and provides opportunities for young girls to grow through triathlons. I want to provide opportunities that I never had. I want to touch as many girls as possible, to help them find their voice very early through sport. To help them understand that they don’t have to experience diseases that so many women of color face, from diabetes to high blood pressure. How? Focus on staying healthy.”
