“Empowered as Women in Sport”: WISH Develops the Next Generation of Women in High-Performance Coaching

Women remain underrepresented in elite coaching, accounting for just 13% of coaches at the Olympic Games. The Women in Sport High-Performance Pathway (WISH) is a 21-month program that aims to change that by equipping female coaches with the skills and confidence to lead on the world stage.  

To build these skills, the program combines online sessions with a five-day residential stay at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. Already, 120 participants from 21 sports and 59 countries have graduated from WISH.  

Participants can be nominated by their National Olympic Committees or International Federations. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has supported several women coaches through WISH, nominating Kristīne Cera and Lorena Lovisolo for the latest cohort. 

The two participants shared their residential experiences, reflecting on what they learned, how the week shaped their confidence, and the lessons they will take forward into their coaching careers.  

Inside WISH: Reflection, Connection, and Growth

For Kristīne Cera and Lola Lovisolo, the WISH residential week provided space to better understand themselves as coaches and reflect on what they wanted to achieve in their careers.   

During the residential stay, experienced facilitators create a supportive, women-only environment where coaches build confidence in their own approach, share experiences, and connect with others from different sports and countries.  

Lovisolo’s account demonstrates this confidence-building in practice: 

As Lovisolo’s words suggest, the residential week marks the start of a longer journey. Throughout the 21-month program, WISH continues to support coaches through leadership training, sport-specific mentoring, self-assessment, and feedback. Crucially, coaches have opportunities to put what they have learned into practice. "The program created an amazing atmosphere with a safe environment and opportunities for each of us to practice, grow, and build our self-confidence,” Cera said.  

Cera also highlighted the inspiration provided by guest speakers and facilitators, as well as the opportunity to learn alongside 25 women coaches from 22 countries and diverse cultures. 

The Lasting Impact of WISH

Kristīne and Lola’s feedback highlights how WISH puts its values into practice. Care for each coach, a selfless approach, and a commitment to gender equality create an inclusive environment for women from diverse backgrounds. Empowerment, shared resources, and collaboration support their development, while play, creativity, and fun open up new perspectives.  

WISH's impact is further reflected in program evaluations, which show that participants develop greater competence, confidence, and courage.

Women leave feeling better equipped to excel in high-performance environments, trust their abilities, and make bold decisions with the conviction to pursue new opportunities and set ambitious goals for their coaching careers.

About WISH

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Solidarity department funds WISH, with support from national committees and international federations. This support helps WISH advance the IOC’s Gender Equality Objective 15: increasing women’s representation in high-performance coaching.

The 21-month program combines eight online sessions and a further eight mentoring sessions, both focused on leadership, with four sport-specific mentoring sessions and a five-day residential stay at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK.

WISH is overseen by representatives from Olympic Solidarity, ASOIF, WOF, participating international federations, WISH management, and the University of Hertfordshire. The program focuses on three core objectives:

1. Leadership: Help coaches develop their personal leadership style and become authentic leaders in high-performance sport.  

1. Sport-specific skills: Identify coaching competencies and mentoring opportunities.  

1. Confidence: Help coaches recognize their strengths, pursue goals, and champion themselves and others.  

Learn more about the WISH programme.