Why are Australian girls quitting sport by 15?
Two-thirds of Australian girls leave organised sport by age 15, compared to just under half of boys.
As Brisbane 2032 approaches, organisers are banking on an Olympic participation legacy. But girls are leaving the pipeline fast.
Research shows almost two-thirds of Australian girls quit sport by 15. A 2020 Victorian study tracked nearly 30,000 girls and found 55 percent who played organised sport aged 4 to 14 dropped out and never came back.
Researchers say lack of role models, body image worries, gender stereotypes and online abuse all play a part. The sporting culture itself is part of the problem: women face three times as much online abuse as men.
Why it mattersThese teenage girls will be 20 or 21 during Brisbane 2032. If they have already quit, Australia loses future athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers for the games and beyond.
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