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“I run like a girl - try to keep up.” There is something unbelievably surrealistic when someone is able to stretch their physical capabilities beyond expectations. It is powerful, it is satisfying and makes us want to push ourselves to the next level of success. Women’s involvement in sports today is more exciting and challenging than ever. We are participating in so many different sports; something that would have been unheard of ten years ago. Our abilities to be coached (we prefer to achieve goals through consensus) plays a big part. Our ability to coach will insure that the next generation of women will set new and reach improbable records. Women’s performance improvements are off the charts. We’re stronger, faster and fitter than we have ever been. The results are in and sports participation is helping us in our non-sporting life. The women in this issue have a number of unique reasons for participating and excelling in their sport of choice. They have run faster, jumped higher and as a result achieved their “personal bests” both in and out of sport. Their stories describe winning in their own personal way. We invite you to get ready, set - go! Enjoy these winners! Elsie Bose 4

Inspiration from The Netherlands KRISHNA THAKRAR American Women’s Club of The Hague, Netherlands From: Kenya Lives: The Hague, Netherlands I am of Indian decent born in Kenya and educated in the United Kingdom. In 1984 I got married and moved from the UK to Canada and from there on to the US, India, China, Belgium, three other states of the US and now I’m here in the Netherlands. Professionally I am an accountant, my work with GE has given me opportunities to work in the UK, Canada and the US. Upon our return to the US in 2005 I started working independently as an accountant as well as a relocation specialist. Throughout my high school years I played netball (similar to basketball, smaller court, slightly different rules and no dribbling of the ball), and rounders (similar to softball). Once I started studying in the UK, I took up squash and reached a level that allowed me to compete at county level. I continued to play intermittently after I got married and moved to Canada. Due to injuries, I was forced to give up squash, eventually finding enjoyment in badminton. Early in 2015 I was introduced to Pickleball (PB) by a fellow badminton player in Minneapolis who was also playing PB. Despite hearing about it I had no interest. But soon the numbers of badminton players were decreasing and we were losing our courts to PB players. So I turned to the gym as my new form of regular exercise. May 2015 came around and I decided to finally give PB a try. That summer I must have played every day, looking for various locations to play all over the city and playing in various teams. Interestingly enough, I learnt one could play 3-4 times a day as there were so many locations where PB was being played! It dawned on me, instead of traveling to Amsterdam to play PB, why not bring PB to The Hague. I knew this would be a challenge but it would be rewarding to introduce my passion to a city new to me. With some of The Hague team at the Dutch National Tournament 5