Flame Bearers: Pathways to Paris

Charlie Guest, is a 2x Olympic skier, psych student, and an advocate for gender equity in sports. After breaking her back in 2014, Charlie went on to become the first British woman to ever win an Alpine European Cup (2019) and later went on to rack up 3 titles. Charlie opens up about her passion for skiing and the systemic inequalities she’s encountered. Specifically, Charlie recounts the infuriating disparities in media coverage during last year's Junior Alpine World Championships championship, where men’s races were given priority while women’s events were ignored. "It wasn’t an accident. It was a choice," she shares. She highlights how these decisions have ripple effects, impacting sponsorships, visibility, and future opportunities for women athletes. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Charlie reflects on her realization that even training methods were not designed for women. “None of the training we were doing was designed for us, and it broke me—physically and emotionally." Yet, this story isn’t just about challenges—it’s about hope and action. Charlie emphasizes the power of speaking up: “If you use your voice, it gives others the courage to use theirs. That’s where real change begins.”