Elite Sport

Sport has always been a big part of my life.

I first represented England at age 13, won my first British Championships at age 16 and represented Great Britain for the first time that same year.

Even back then I was quick to notice that what women needed was often overlooked. Training programmes were designed around male bodies, things like our menstrual cycles were not considered relevant.

Unexpected Retirement

A cycling accident forced my retirement from competitive sport.

My injuries included bleeding in my brain, a broken collarbone, and two fractured vertebrae. It was a little too much to train through.

A childhood dedicated to sport lost its purpose overnight. Competing for Olympic gold was no longer viable.

For the first time in my life, I stopped exercising altogether, turning my attention to academics instead.

Return to Sport

It was during lockdown that I decided to return to fitness.

I took up running, and at first it was difficult. At that point, I could barely manage 2.5km.

Gradually, that began to change. I started running further, getting stronger, and rebuilding the fitness I had once taken for granted.

Over time, this led to three marathons, an Olympic-distance triathlon, and my first 70.3 Ironman last year.

A Pattern Repeating

As my training increased, familiar frustrations began to re-emerge.

Once again, it felt as though the things women need were being overlooked.

During winter marathon training, my routing app kept trying to take me through Hyde Park, even though it was isolated and pitch black. The routes did not recognise women’s need for comfort or safety.

Having already survived one serious sporting accident, I knew first-hand the consequences of taking unnecessary risks.

Repeating it was not on my to-do list.

The Mission

This is why I’ve founded Joyna.

After 20 years embedded in the sporting ecosystem, both competitively and recreationally, I can confidently say things aren’t changing fast enough.

Sport and technology have both been historically male-dominated. The needs of women are often overlooked, usually by accident rather than intent.

Women deserve to experience the mental and physical health benefits of exercise.

Women should be able to run outside and feel safe.

Warmest wishes,

Anna