\u201cShould you be out here in such rough conditions?\u201d is the kind of patronising comment women in outrigger canoeing still hear regularly \u2013 especially when they are part of a crew whose members are all above the age of 50.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boat doesn\u2019t care about your gender. It only cares that you show up and put in 110 per cent effort,\u201d says Eva Lind-Mallo, 53, who was on a Masters team of six Hong Kong women who raced at the World Distance Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in our ohana<\/em> [family], we care that we show up for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The team, which recently returned with a silver medal from the Takapuna Beach Cup in New Zealand, symbolises a global movement finally seeing women\u2019s sport move from the sidelines to the forefront.<\/p>\n \u201cFemale athletes have unprecedented visibility as competitors, founders and marketing powerhouses, while fandom, media coverage and grass roots participation surges worldwide,\u201d the report says. \u201cWelcome to a world of new leagues and women\u2019s sports bars \u2013 while \u2018regular\u2019 women of all ages flock to strength training and competitive sport, reframing fitness from aesthetics to capability and longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Eva](\"https:\/\/img.i-scmp.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto\/sites\/default\/files\/d8\/images\/canvas\/2026\/03\/05\/e2894b37-23fd-4bef-acee-2b0fee322ade_6cbd5ecb.jpg\" "\\"Eva")
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