The idea of getting
naked in front of other
people terrifies me.
The night before this
shoot, I didn’t sleep
very well, but I can
appreciate that, as an
athlete, my body will
never look better than
it does now. I think
the images will be
something I’ll look
back on and be proud
of. I try to challenge
myself every week
to do something that
pushes me out of my
comfort zone.
I’m a sportswoman,
so I need my body
to do a job. It means
that I’m more focused
on getting into shape
to perform how I
want to, rather than
on how my body looks- how it looks isn’t
important. The reality
is that everyone has
something they don’t
like about their body.
As I’ve matured, I’ve
come to understand
that; some days,
acceptance is still
a mental battle, but
I’m learning how to
deal with it.
Being fit and healthy
is more important
than weight. In
netball, players have
skin-fold tests to
determine body fat
composition –
sometimes you might
be told to shift a few
pounds, but that’s
AMA AGBEZE, 36
England netballer who captained the
team to its first major international title
at the 2018 Commonwealth Gamesbecause when you’re
lighter and have the
same amount of
power, you can move
faster and jump
higher. It’s easier to
accept when it comes
down to pure physics.
I’ve been quite body-
conscious all my life.
When I was in
reception at school,
I once forgot my PE
kit. The teacher made
me do the class in my
knickers and vest and,
when I tried to hide
behind my partner,
she forced me out as
punishment. I already
looked different from
my peers – I was the
only black girl in the
class and taller than
any of the boys. It’s
easy to see how I
became self-conscious.
Muscles are still seen
as male territory. In
the sporting arena,
people understand
what an athlete’s body
looks like, but when
I walk down the street,
people will stare and
make comments.
Often they will assume
I am (or was) a man
because I’m tall and
muscular. It’s why
we need to see more
physically strong
women in the media,
to show people just
how powerful female
bodies can be.92 | SEPTEMBER 2019 Women’s Health
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