Behind the Medals: The Challenges Facing Female Student-Athletes

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The Dual Burden: Balancing Academic and Athletic Demands

Talent is often seen as the starting point of sporting success. Add discipline, determination and countless hours of training, and we tend to assume that an athlete has what she needs to succeed.

For female student-athletes, however, the reality can be far more complicated. They are expected to perform in two demanding worlds at the same time. As students, they must attend classes, complete assignments, sit for examinations and prepare for their future careers. As competitive athletes, they face intensive training, tournaments, recovery schedules and constant pressure to perform.

Uncovering the Lived Experience: The Universiti Malaya Study

These realities are at the heart of a Universiti Malaya research project that seeks to better understand the experiences of women navigating both academic and sporting life.

The project, “Silent Struggles, Vocal Ambitions: The Lived Experiences of Female Student-Athletes in Malaysia,” is led by Dr. Chong Yong Yee and her team from the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya. Through the research, the team brings attention to the challenges female student-athletes may encounter and the support systems needed to help them pursue both their education and sporting ambitions.

Managing these responsibilities requires remarkable discipline. But individual determination can only go so far. The environment surrounding an athlete can determine whether her talent is given the opportunity to develop.

Structural Barriers: Facilities, Exposure, and Professional Support

Female student-athletes may face challenges involving access to funding, training facilities, competitions and professional support. These challenges can become particularly significant when opportunities available to women are not comparable to those available to their male counterparts. This means that the conversation about women in sport should move beyond asking whether female athletes are talented or committed enough. We should also ask whether the sporting system provides them with a fair opportunity to succeed.

Facilities and Venues: Consider something as basic as access to facilities. Quality training requires appropriate venues, equipment and sufficient training time. If access is limited or prioritised elsewhere, an athlete may already be disadvantaged before competition begins.
Competitive Exposure: The same applies to competitive exposure. Athletes improve not only through training but also by competing regularly against strong opponents. Opportunities to participate in tournaments allow them to gain experience, understand their weaknesses and develop confidence. Fewer opportunities can therefore slow an athlete’s progression, regardless of her potential.
Comprehensive Care: Modern competitive sport requires much more than a coach and a training programme. Athletes may need sports science, psychological support, injury management, nutrition advice and mentoring. Female athletes can also benefit from having more female coaches and role models who understand their experiences and can provide guidance throughout their sporting journeys.

Safe Sport and the Hidden Burden on Families

Safe sporting environments must be another priority. Athletes should be able to train, travel and compete in environments where their dignity and wellbeing are protected. Safe-sport practices should therefore be proactive rather than introduced only after problems occur. Prevention, clear reporting mechanisms and institutional accountability should form part of a healthy sporting culture.

When these formal support systems are insufficient, families often become the hidden safety net. Parents and family members may provide financial assistance, transportation, emotional encouragement and other forms of support that enable an athlete to continue competing. While family support is valuable, an athlete’s ability to progress should not depend excessively on the resources available at home. Otherwise, two equally talented athletes may experience very different sporting journeys simply because one has greater personal support.

Transferable Strengths: Beyond the Sporting Arena

There is also a tendency to view competitive sport and academic achievement as competing priorities. Yet being a student-athlete can develop qualities that are valuable far beyond the sporting arena:

Balancing lectures with training develops strong time management.
Recovering from defeat builds resilience.
Working with coaches and teammates strengthens communication and teamwork.
Preparing for competition instills discipline, while managing high-stakes pressure fosters emotional maturity.

These qualities can prepare student-athletes not only for competition but also for their future careers.

Institutional Responsibility and Policy Pathways

Universities therefore have an important responsibility. Supporting student-athletes should not mean asking them to choose between academic achievement and sporting ambition. Institutions should create an environment in which both can develop together.

This could involve:

More flexible academic arrangements during major competitions
Fair access to sporting facilities and dedicated funding
Stronger psychological and wellbeing support services
Mentoring networks and closer coordination between academic and sporting units

Sports organisations and policymakers also have a role to play. Increasing women’s participation in sport is important, but participation alone is not enough. Attention must be given to the entire pathway, from grassroots development to university competition and potentially elite sport.

Building an Athlete-Centred Future in Malaysia

Malaysia has made considerable progress in recognising and celebrating women in sport. The next step is to ensure that opportunities behind the medals and public achievements are equally strong.

Ultimately, sporting success should not depend on how many systemic obstacles an athlete is personally capable of overcoming. Talent needs opportunity. Ambition needs support. Resilience needs an environment in which it can flourish.

If Malaysia wants more female student-athletes to succeed, we must look beyond what happens on the field, court or track. We need to consider the complete journey of the athlete—as a competitor, a student and a future professional. When that journey is supported by a fair, safe and athlete-centred system, women should not have to choose between education and sporting ambition. They can thrive in both.

SDGs Addressed

	SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through medical advancement,
	SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by promoting equal opportunities, fair access to resources, safe sporting environments, and institutional support for female student-athletes to succeed in both education and sport.

Researcher featured:

Dr. Chong Yong Yee

Senior Lecturer

Dean's Office

Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science

Get to know the researcher:

Dr. Chong Yong Yee is a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya whose research focuses on gender equality, empowerment and inclusion in sport. Her work gives female athletes a stronger voice by identifying the support they need to thrive in sport, education and beyond. She is also developing a knowledge hub for current and retired female athletes to support their welfare and long-term well-being.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Email: yongyeechong@um.edu.my

LinkedIn: https://my.linkedin.com/in/yongyeechong

Web of Science ID: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/HTN-3920-2023

Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57350171400

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5968-924X

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