tag:theconversation.com,2011:/institutions/stephen-f-austin-state-university-2360/articlesStephen F. Austin State University2024-02-15T12:37:58Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2236632024-02-15T12:37:58Z2024-02-15T12:37:58ZKelvin Kiptum: el corredor keniano que redefinió lo que se necesita para ganar maratones<p>El atletismo keniano ha perdido a Kelvin Kiptum, el <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/chicago-marathon-2023-kiptum-world-record-hassan">plusmarquista</a> mundial de maratón que estaba <a href="https://theconversation.com/marathon-under-2-hours-is-closer-than-ever-scientist-shows-how-kenyas-kiptum-tests-human-limits-215377">destinado</a> a ser la primera persona en correr la carrera por debajo de las dos horas. El corredor, de sólo 24 años, falleció el 10 de febrero en un <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68270866">accidente de coche</a> en el que también murió su entrenador, el ruandés Gervais Hakizimana, de 37 años. </p>
<p>El accidente se produjo cerca de uno de los <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-12/world-marathon-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead/103454892">centros de entrenamiento de atletismo de gran altitud</a> que salpican el valle del Rift, al norte del país. La región, al noroeste de Nairobi, es cuna de muchos corredores de fondo kenianos, entre ellos atletas de fama mundial como el explusmarquista mundial de maratón <a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/eliud-kipchoge">Eliud Kipchoge</a>. </p>
<p>El rápido ascenso de Kelvin Kiptum a la cima del maratón fue asombroso. Al parecer, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">no pudo permitirse un par de zapatillas</a> para correr en su primera gran carrera competitiva. Eso fue hace seis años. Kiptum era considerado uno de los <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">mejores corredores de maratón</a> que el mundo había visto jamás. </p>
<p>Su trágica muerte ha provocado una conmoción mundial y elogios para un atleta destinado a mantener viva una tradición de corredores de fondo líderes mundiales del país del este de África. Y Kenia ha perdido un hijo. “Kiptum era nuestro futuro”, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/athletics-reaction-death-marathon-world-record-holder-kiptum-2024-02-12/">dijo</a> el presidente de Kenia, William Ruto. </p>
<p>La carrera de Kiptum fue fascinante para un científico del deporte como yo, centrado en la investigación del atletismo keniano. Su meteórico ascenso a la cima de las carreras de distancia pone de relieve el fenomenal talento que tenía en el mundo. Y lo que representaba, en valores y en entrenamiento. </p>
<p>Kiptum nació y creció en un entorno en el que el puro compromiso y las carreras de larga distancia han transformado a otros niños descalzos, pastores de ganado, en superestrellas internacionales. Su intrépida forma de correr a la cabeza del grupo le distinguió como un atleta seguro y fácil que dictaba el ritmo en lugar de reaccionar a los movimientos de otros corredores. </p>
<p>Nos preguntamos qué más nos deparará y hasta qué punto puede un ser humano superar los límites del tiempo necesario para correr un maratón.</p>
<h2>Actuaciones icónicas</h2>
<p>Kiptum fue una de las promesas más interesantes del atletismo en ruta en los últimos años, tras batir el <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/kelvin-kiptum-breaks-marathon-world-record-in-chicago/102950382">récord del mundo</a> en su <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-died-car-107144332">tercera participación</a> en una maratón de élite. </p>
<p>Su récord de 2 horas y 35 segundos, establecido en la maratón de Chicago del año pasado, fue <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/ratified-world-marathon-record-kelvin-kiptum">ratificado</a> el 6 de febrero por la federación internacional de atletismo World Athletics. Antes de establecer el récord mundial en Chicago, había ganado la Maratón de Londres 2023 (2:01:25) y la Maratón de Valencia 2022 (2:01:53), que fue su prueba de debut en maratón. </p>
<p>En el momento de su muerte, se estaba entrenando para la Maratón de Rotterdam de abril de 2024, con la ilusión de intentar romper la <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/kelvin-kiptum-death-age-kenya-london-marathon-b2494598.html?page=4">barrera de las dos horas</a> en una carrera oficial por primera vez. </p>
<p>Kiptum era también uno de los principales <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-died-car-107144332">aspirantes al oro</a> en los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024, en julio. Allí probablemente iba a competir contra Kipchoge, ya que ambos atletas habían sido incluidos en el equipo provisional de maratón de Kenia.</p>
<h2>Ascenso</h2>
<p>La trayectoria de Kiptum en el atletismo muestra cómo se transmiten las tradiciones keniatas en las carreras de distancia. Su temprano interés por el atletismo se vio muy influido por su primo, un corredor que a menudo trabajaba como <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">marcapasos</a> para el legendario fondista etíope Haile Gebrselassie. Pero aunque a Kiptum le interesaba correr, su padre era <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">de la opinión</a> de que debía seguir una vocación más práctica como electricista. La pasión de Kiptum por el atletismo no tuvo éxito de inmediato, pero persistió en su empeño.</p>
<p>Se puede especular que la decisión de Kiptum de seguir entrenándose sin recompensas tangibles le preparó perfectamente para el maratón. La carrera de 42,195 kilómetros exige la máxima capacidad de resistencia, tanto física como mental.</p>
<p>Al principio, Kiptum probó suerte en la media maratón. Pero en 2022 se pasó a la distancia larga después de que su entrenador, que le conoció de pequeño en el pueblo, le convenciese para que se convirtiera en plusmarquista mundial.</p>
<p>Muchos maratonianos de élite de Kenia, como <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/paul-tergat-14209893">Paul Tergat</a> (el primer atleta que corrió una maratón en menos de 2 horas y 5 minutos), Kipchoge y <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/moses-tanui-14209866">Moses Tanui</a>, pasaron al maratón tras largas carreras en la pista. Kiptum se lanzó al maratón muy pronto y esta modalidad se convirtió en su único objetivo.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223663/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.</span></em></p>Fallecido de accidente de tráfico con solo 24 años, Kiptum creció en un entorno en el que el puro compromiso y las carreras de larga distancia han transformado a otros niños descalzos, pastores de ganado, en superestrellas internacionales.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2234522024-02-13T14:58:50Z2024-02-13T14:58:50ZKelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons<p>Kenyan athletics has lost Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/chicago-marathon-2023-kiptum-world-record-hassan">record holder</a> who was <a href="https://theconversation.com/marathon-under-2-hours-is-closer-than-ever-scientist-shows-how-kenyas-kiptum-tests-human-limits-215377">destined</a> to be the first person to run the race in under two hours. The runner, aged only 24, died on 10 February in a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68270866">car accident</a> that also claimed his coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, from Rwanda. </p>
<iframe id="noa-web-audio-player" style="border: none" src="https://embed-player.newsoveraudio.com/v4?key=x84olp&id=https://theconversation.com/kelvin-kiptum-the-kenyan-runner-who-redefined-what-it-takes-to-win-marathons-223452&bgColor=F5F5F5&color=D8352A&playColor=D8352A" width="100%" height="110px"></iframe>
<p>The accident occurred near one of the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-12/world-marathon-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead/103454892">high-altitude athletics training centres</a> that dot the country’s north Rift Valley. The region north-west of Nairobi is home to many Kenyan distance runners, among them world famous athletes such as former world marathon record holder <a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/eliud-kipchoge">Eliud Kipchoge</a>. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/marathon-under-2-hours-is-closer-than-ever-scientist-shows-how-kenyas-kiptum-tests-human-limits-215377">Marathon under 2 hours is closer than ever – scientist shows how Kenya’s Kiptum tests human limits</a>
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<p>Kelvin Kiptum’s rapid ascent to the peak of marathon running was astounding. He was reportedly <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">unable to afford a pair of shoes</a> to run in his first major competitive race. That was six years ago. By the time of his death he was widely regarded as one of the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">best marathon runners</a> the world had ever seen. </p>
<p>His tragic death elicited global shock and praise for an athlete destined to keep alive a tradition of world leading distance runners from the east African country. And Kenya has lost a son. “Kiptum was our future,” <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/athletics-reaction-death-marathon-world-record-holder-kiptum-2024-02-12/">said</a> Kenyan president William Ruto. </p>
<p>Kiptum’s career was fascinating to watch for a sport scientist like me, with a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Wycliffe+W.+Njororai+Simiyu&btnG=">research focus</a> on Kenyan athletics. His meteoric rise to the pinnacle of distance running highlights what a phenomenal talent the world had. And what he represented – in values and in training. </p>
<p>Kiptum was born and raised in an environment where sheer commitment and distance running has transformed other barefoot, livestock-herding kids into international superstars. His fearless running from the front marked him out as a confident and easy athlete who dictated the pace rather than one reacting to other runners’ moves. We are left to wonder what more he had in store, and how far a human being could push the limits of how long it takes to run a marathon.</p>
<h2>Iconic performances</h2>
<p>Kiptum was one of the most exciting prospects to emerge in road running anywhere in years, having broken the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/kelvin-kiptum-breaks-marathon-world-record-in-chicago/102950382">world record</a> in only his <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-died-car-107144332">third appearance</a> in an elite marathon. </p>
<p>His record of 2 hours 35 seconds, set at last year’s Chicago Marathon, was <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/ratified-world-marathon-record-kelvin-kiptum">ratified</a> on 6 February by international track federation World Athletics. Prior to setting the world record at the Chicago Marathon, he had won the 2023 London Marathon (2:01:25) and the 2022 Valencia Marathon (2:01:53), which was his debut event in marathon running. </p>
<p>At the time of his death, he was training for the Rotterdam Marathon in April 2024, with excitement building at the prospect of an attempt to break the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/kelvin-kiptum-death-age-kenya-london-marathon-b2494598.html?page=4">two-hour barrier</a> in an official race for the first time. </p>
<p>Kiptum was also a top <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-died-car-107144332">prospect for gold</a> at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in July. There he was likely going to race against Kipchoge as the two athletes had been named in Kenya’s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68270866">provisional marathon team</a>.</p>
<h2>Rise and rise</h2>
<p>Kiptum’s path in athletics represents how Kenyan distance running traditions are passed on. His early interest in running was greatly influenced by watching his cousin, a runner who often worked as a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">pacemaker</a> for legendary Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie. But while Kiptum’s interest was running, his father was <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68274984">of the view</a> that he needed to pursue a more practical vocation as an electrician. Kiptum’s passion for running did not yield success immediately, but he persisted in the effort.</p>
<p>One can speculate that Kiptum’s decision to carry on training without any tangible rewards prepared him perfectly for the marathon. The 42.195 km race demands ultimate endurance ability, both physical and mental.</p>
<p>Initially, Kiptum tried his hand at the half marathon but moved up to the marathon in 2022 after some convincing from his coach, who had met him as a little boy in the village and later nurtured him to be a world marathon record holder.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/faith-kipyegon-from-walking-to-school-in-rural-kenya-to-setting-world-athletics-alight-211915">Faith Kipyegon: from walking to school in rural Kenya to setting world athletics alight</a>
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<p>Many elite marathon runners in Kenya – such as <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/paul-tergat-14209893">Paul Tergat</a> (the first athlete to run the marathon in under 2 hours 5 minutes), Kipchoge and <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/moses-tanui-14209866">Moses Tanui</a> – transitioned to the marathon after long careers on the track.</p>
<p>Kiptum launched his marathon running early on and it became his sole focus. What he might have achieved is now perhaps less useful a question than what shaped him.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223452/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>His sudden death at 24 has shone a light on what a talent and hard worker he was, and what he represented.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2220622024-01-26T15:24:41Z2024-01-26T15:24:41Z5 key talking points as Afcon enters the knock-out phase in Côte d'Ivoire<p>Judging from media and online activity, this has been the most talked about <a href="https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/">Africa Cup of Nations</a> (Afcon) in many years. That’s not just because the tournament, held every two years, is becoming a <a href="https://theconversation.com/afcon-demands-global-respect-opens-a-new-chapter-for-african-football-176552">significant event</a> on the international football calendar. It’s also because there was a lot at stake this year – for competing nations, teams, organisers (the Confederation of African Football or Caf) and hosts (Côte d'Ivoire). </p>
<p>This is, after all, the <a href="https://www.africanews.com/2019/03/26/meet-the-24-teams-that-qualified-for-afcon-20109/#:%7E:text=Meet%20the%2024%20teams%20that%20qualified%20for%20AFCON,of%20Congo%207%20Egypt%208%20Ghana%20More%20items">third Afcon</a> to test the <a href="https://theconversation.com/afcons-decision-to-allow-24-countries-to-play-is-paying-off-and-having-dramatic-repercussions-221991">new format</a> of 24 countries in the final stage instead of 16. Has the move to bring more “smaller” teams to the big stage made the game more competitive? Would Senegal and Morocco prove they deserved their powerhouse reputations? Côte d'Ivoire invested heavily in hosting the tournament: would they pull it off? And did the new Caf boss, Patrice Motsepe, have the experience to take the tournament to the next level?</p>
<p>As a <a href="https://www.uttyler.edu/directory/hkdept/wycliffe-njororai.php">sports scientist</a> with a research <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Wycliffe+W.+Njororai+Simiyu&btnG=">focus</a> on African football, I have been watching developments with keen interest. As the tournament heads into the second round this weekend, with 16 teams still standing, I have outlined what the five key talking points are – or at least should be – at an upbeat Afcon this year.</p>
<h2>1. Upsets make gripping tournaments</h2>
<p>Eight teams have been <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/afcon-round-of-16-fixtures-and-knockout-bracket-confirmed/ar-BB1hdk8E">eliminated</a> so far. This includes teams that have won the tournament before – <a href="https://theconversation.com/ghana-won-afcon-four-times-but-the-last-time-was-40-years-ago-what-went-wrong-with-its-football-team-221021">Ghana</a>, Algeria and Tunisia. Others eliminated are Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, The Gambia, Zambia and Tanzania. But the biggest shocks were that Algeria, the 2019 champions, and Tunisia, the 2004 champions, finished last in their groups.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/ghana-won-afcon-four-times-but-the-last-time-was-40-years-ago-what-went-wrong-with-its-football-team-221021">Ghana won Afcon four times, but the last time was 40 years ago. What went wrong with its football team?</a>
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<p>The countries that exited at the preliminary stage have <a href="https://notjustok.com/sports/coaches-who-resigned-or-have-been-sacked-at-afcon-2023/">inquests</a> going on into their failure. Algeria, Ghana, Côte D’Ivoire, Tunisia, The Gambia and Tanzania have fired their coaches.</p>
<p>These kinds of shock exits provide fodder for fans to engage with the sport on social media and debates at family and community levels. The drama generates excitement and it’s clear that adding eight underdogs has paid off.</p>
<h2>2. All eyes on Senegal and Morocco</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://theconversation.com/afcon-demands-global-respect-opens-a-new-chapter-for-african-football-176552">last Afcon</a> was held in Cameroon and won by Senegal, who are under pressure to recapture the trophy and prove that they’re the best team in Africa. Since then, <a href="https://theconversation.com/morocco-at-the-2022-world-cup-6-forces-behind-a-history-making-performance-196359">Morocco have become</a> Africa’s first football team to make the World Cup semi-finals. They’re the <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men">highest ranked</a> African team, under pressure to match that status with an Afcon title. </p>
<p>So far, Senegal have excelled. They strolled to victory over The Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea. Morocco have not displayed the kind of fluidity and team chemistry that was on show in the World Cup. However, they beat Tanzania and Zambia and drew with DR Congo to lead their group.</p>
<p>The rivalry between the two top ranked teams will continue into the next round and provide fuel for many heated conversations among fans.</p>
<h2>3. The playing field is levelling</h2>
<p>The preliminary round of Afcon has shown that the gap between the traditional superpowers and minnows of African football is shrinking fast. </p>
<p>Although west and north African countries have <a href="https://en.as.com/soccer/afcon-2023-which-national-team-has-won-the-africa-cup-of-nations-most-often-complete-list-of-winners-n/">historically dominated</a>, there are prospects for new countries to put a mark on the tournament. </p>
<p>Lesser known football nations like Cape Verde, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Mali dominated their groups and exhibited excellent football. It’s been refreshing to see them, as well as Namibia and Mauritania, assert themselves at Afcon.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/afcons-decision-to-allow-24-countries-to-play-is-paying-off-and-having-dramatic-repercussions-221991">Afcon's decision to allow 24 countries to play is paying off – and having dramatic repercussions</a>
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<p>Better known football nations like Egypt, Nigeria, DR Congo, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire and South Africa were given scares before making it to the next round. Will these countries learn from the early slip-ups? </p>
<h2>4. Being a host with the most</h2>
<p>Côte d’Ivoire is staging its second Afcon in 40 years, the first having been in 1984. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/12/all-eyes-on-hosts-ivory-coast-as-afcon-looks-to-move-on">All eyes</a> were on whether the country would be able to pull it off. So far, it has done an exceptional job in a new era of internet, social media, streaming and global interest. </p>
<p>The tournament is being held in six stadiums located in five <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/67615678">host cities</a> across Côte d’Ivoire, involving a massive injection of money into infrastructure, which can ultimately boost the nation’s economy. With a successful Afcon, Côte d'Ivoire will benefit from its new global visibility.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/africa-cup-of-nations-showcases-the-continents-finest-footballers-and-chinas-economic-clout-220313">Africa Cup of Nations showcases the continent's finest footballers – and China's economic clout</a>
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<p>However, preparations for the tournament were not without <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/12/all-eyes-on-hosts-ivory-coast-as-afcon-looks-to-move-on">controversy</a>. President Alassane Ouattara had tongues wagging when he sacked the prime minister, Patrick Achi, in October last year after the pitch infrastructure at a showpiece stadium in Ebimpé, which hosted the opening and will host the final match, failed to meet tournament standards. It required remedial work, despite the US$257 million spent on it.</p>
<p>There are plenty of lessons here for future hosts. Fans in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be watching as their countries prepare to <a href="https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/worldnews/afcon/breaking-caf-confirms-next-two-afcon-hosts-20230927#:%7E:text=Members%20of%20the%20committee%20casted%20their%20votes%20after,by%20Motsepe%20in%20a%20press%20conference%20in%20Cairo.">co-host</a> the tournament in east Africa for the first time in 2027.</p>
<h2>5. Patrice Motsepe put to the test</h2>
<p>It’s Caf’s job to ensure that organisationally everything runs smoothly at Afcon. South African businessman Patrice Motsepe’s debut tournament as Caf president was in Cameroon, under COVID-19 restrictions. It was a bloodstained start. Eight <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/24/africa-cup-of-nations-cameroon-olembe-stadium-crush#:%7E:text=Eight%20killed%20after%20crush%20outside%20Africa%20Cup%20of%20Nations%20match%20in%20Cameroon,-This%20article%20is&text=Eight%20people%20have%20died%20and,against%20Comoros%20on%20Monday%20night.">people died</a> and more than 38 were injured because of poor <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/24/africa-cup-of-nations-cameroon-olembe-stadium-crush">crowd-control measures</a> at Yaoundé’s Olembé Stadium. The tragedy, the first of its kind in the history of Afcon, left a question mark over Caf.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-four-big-challenges-facing-patrice-motsepe-africas-new-soccer-boss-157015">The four big challenges facing Patrice Motsepe, Africa's new soccer boss</a>
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<p>The current Afcon is therefore a test of both Motsepe and Caf. Going by the field display, quality of officiating and overall organisation, including media coverage, Caf’s organisational standards have been given a facelift this year. </p>
<p>These elements – professional organisation and hosting, growing fanbases and, most importantly, gripping matches – are what will be required on a sustainable level if Afcon is to continue to grow in stature and expand its global appeal and viewership.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222062/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Why it’s been the most talked-about African football tournament in years: the wins, losses, hosts and bosses.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2112322023-11-14T05:57:09Z2023-11-14T05:57:09ZCoupe du monde de football : les femmes africaines s'imposent, contre vents et marées<p>Le Nigeria, l'Afrique du Sud et le Maroc ont décroché leur place pour les huitièmes de finale de la Coupe du monde de football féminin, au moment où l'Allemagne, le Brésil et le Canada ont fait leurs valises pour rentrer chez eux à l'issue de la phase de groupes, le 3 août 2023. Trois des 10 premières équipes du classement mondial de la <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398116">Fifa</a> sont donc présentes en phase de groupes, et les États-Unis ne sont que seconds de leur groupe. C'est la première fois que trois équipes africaines atteignent le deuxième tour et c'est un excellent indicateur de l'amélioration de la qualité du jeu. </p>
<p>En tant qu'universitaire en <a href="https://www.uttyler.edu/directory/hkdept/wycliffe-njororai.php">sciences du sport</a> avec un fort <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Wycliffe+W.+Njorai+Simiyu&btnG=">axe de recherche</a> sur le football africain, il est encourageant de constater comment l'élargissement du tournoi de 24 à 32 nations semble avoir ouvert des opportunités pour de nouvelles équipes désireuses de marquer leur présence sur la scène mondiale. Les équipes africaines, ainsi que d'autres puissances non traditionnelles comme la Colombie et la Jamaïque, se sont en effet montrées capables de déjouer les pronostics d'avant le tournoi.</p>
<p>Étant donné que le football féminin est un phénomène relativement nouveau dans de nombreux pays africains, les résultats obtenus par les équipes féminines envoient un signal fort à leurs fédérations nationales respectives, à la Confédération africaine de football et aux gouvernements, indiquant qu'elles méritent davantage d'attention et d'investissements. </p>
<p>En effet, le football féminin pourrait être un excellent moyen pour les pays africains d'obtenir une reconnaissance mondiale dans le domaine du football, comme cela a été le cas pour les <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/fifa-u17-world-cup-2023-caf-produces-four-finalists-as-afcon-u17-crawls">compétitions de catégories d'âge</a>. </p>
<h2>Les débutantes font sensation</h2>
<p>Les Lionnes de l'Atlas du Maroc, qui ont participé au tournoi pour la première fois, ont porté le poids d'être la première équipe féminine du monde arabe à jouer sur la scène de la Coupe du monde. Classées 72e avant la coupe du monde, elles ont fait des vagues en battant la Colombie et la Corée du Sud 1-0 pour devancer l'Allemagne, deuxième du groupe H.</p>
<p>Ces deux victoires ont renforcé leur confiance et leur ont permis d'accéder aux huitièmes de finale. Cela leur a ouvert les portes d'une confrontation alléchante avec la France, qui est dans une forme dévastatrice. Elles sont inclinées en huitèmes de finales faces aux Bleues (4-0). </p>
<p>Sur les huit débutantes en Australie et en Nouvelle-Zélande, les Lionnes de l'Atlas sont les <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398182">dernières à se maintenir en lice</a>. Leur succès est à mettre au crédit de la FIFA qui, après une Coupe du monde 2019 très réussie, a élargi les opportunités pour les régions non traditionnellement dominantes de football en <a href="https://the18.com/soccer-news/fifa-womens-world-cup-expansion-32-teams-2023">augmentant le nombre de places</a> de 24 à 32. Le gouvernement marocain mérite également d'être félicité pour son investissement dans une <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398182">académie de football</a> qui cherche à produire des footballeurs de qualité internationale, tant chez les garçons que chez les filles. Les récents succès des <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/football/morocco-spain-quarter-finals-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html">équipes marocaines masculine</a> et féminine sont soigneusement planifiés et exécutés, et ne sont pas le fruit d'un accident ou d'une coïncidence.</p>
<h2>L'Afrique du Sud surmonte le chaos d'avant-tournoi</h2>
<p>L'équipe sud-africaine des Banyana Banyana (54e rang mondial), qui avait perdu ses trois matches lors des phases de groupe de 2019, a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/womens-world-cup/schedule">assuré</a> sa place en huitièmes de finale grâce à sa première victoire de l'histoire de la Coupe du monde féminine - une victoire palpitante de 3-2 sur l'Italie - et au match nul 2-2 contre l'Argentine. La joueuse Thembi Kgatlana s'est distinguée par ses deux buts et ses deux passes décisives. </p>
<p>Ces progrès de l'Afrique du Sud lui ont permis d'affronter les Pays-Bas, mais elle a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/66378179">malheureusement perdu</a> 2-0. Néanmoins, le tournoi a permis à l'équipe de réaliser une performance historique, qui, au fur et à mesure, a mis de côté sa préparation <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/articles/soccer/south-africa-womens-world-cup-team-sits-out-game-in-pay-dispute-as-13yearold-player-called-in">timultueuse</a> d'avant-tournoi, notamment les différends salariaux et les boycotts des matches de préparation. </p>
<h2>Les Super Falcons volent haut</h2>
<p>L'autre équipe féminine africaine à se qualifier est le Nigeria, classé 40e par la Fifa avant le tournoi. L'équipe a dépassé les attentes dans un groupe B extrêmement difficile pour se qualifier pour les huitièmes de finale pour une deuxième Coupe du monde consécutive.</p>
<p>Les Super Falcons ont fait match nul avec le Canada (0-0), ont battu l'Australie (3-2) et ont fait match nul avec la République d'Irlande (0-0) pour terminer deuxièmes du Groupe B. Ce faisant, elles ont éliminé les championnes olympiques en titre, le Canada, lors de la phase de groupes du tournoi. Elles ont été invaincues en phase de groupes.</p>
<p>Les Nigérianes ont bien performé, étant donné qu'elles étaient apparement<a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398116">sur le point</a> de boycotter les matches pour des raisons de salaire et de conditions de travail. Elles ont été éliminé en huitième de finale pat l'Angleterre , championne d'Europe, dans le <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/nigeria-vs-england-why-super-falcons-face-tough-test-against-james-lionesses/">combat des invaincus</a> (4 tirs au but à 0).</p>
<h2>Prêtes pour la compétition</h2>
<p>Trois équipes africaines, le Nigeria, l'Afrique du Sud et le Maroc, ont fait honneur au continent en se qualifiant pour la phase à élimination directe de la Coupe du monde féminine. Leur message est le suivant : “Nous sommes ici pour rivaliser”. La Zambie a quitté la scène la tête haute en terminant troisième de son groupe après avoir battu le Costa Rica 3-1. </p>
<p>La confiance en soi et l'assurance, ainsi que l'habileté technique et tactique dont ont fait preuve les équipes africaines, montrent que leurs adversaires ne peuvent plus les prendre à la légère. </p>
<p><em>Cet article a été modifié pour refléter les résultats des matches.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211232/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Les équipes africaines prennent d'assaut la coupe du monde de football.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2119152023-08-21T15:09:09Z2023-08-21T15:09:09ZFaith Kipyegon: from walking to school in rural Kenya to setting world athletics alight<p>All eyes were on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/faith-kipyegon-14413305">Faith Kipyegon</a> at the 2023 <a href="https://worldathletics.org">World Athletics Championships</a> in Budapest, Hungary. That’s because the Kenyan 1,500 metre and 5,000 metre star broke <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-record-1500-meters#:%7E:text=Kenyan%20Faith%20Kipyegon%20smashed%20the,s%20world%20record%20from%202015.">three</a> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/kipyegon-smashes-womens-5000m-world-record-paris-diamond-league-2023-06-09/">world</a> <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/monaco-herculis-2023-kipyegon-world-record-mile#:%7E:text=Kipyegon%20obliterates%20world%20mile%20record,in%20Monaco%20%7C%20REPORTS%20%7C%20World%20Athletics">records</a> in less than two months on her way to Hungary, where <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/world-athletics-championships-2023-faith-kipyegon-womens-1500m-sifan-hassan-third">lifted gold</a> in the 1,500m for the third year in a row as well as winning the 5,000m event. She becomes the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/kenyas-kipyegon-claims-5000m-win-second-gold-budapest-2023-08-26/">first woman</a> in history to win gold over both distances at the championships.</p>
<p>As expected, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya spearheaded Africa’s hopes for medals, continuing their dominance in middle and distance running events. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/athletics-kenyans-are-running-for-other-countries-but-thats-not-why-medals-are-fewer-187707">Athletics: Kenyans are running for other countries, but that's not why medals are fewer</a>
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<p>Over time, Africa is earning fewer gold medals at the event, even from Kenya’s famous male distance athletes. Kipyegon, however, bucked the trend. Considered by many as the greatest female 1,500m <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/66445312">runner in history</a>, she is the one athlete who has been consistent for the last eight years. </p>
<p>As a sport scientist with a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Wycliffe+W.+Njororai+Simiyu&btnG=">research focus</a> on Kenyan athletics, I have followed Kipyegon’s career with interest. But who is she, what drives her and how did she manage to achieve this level of success despite taking a break from competing to start a family? </p>
<h2>World record spree</h2>
<p>Of the last six World Athletics Championships or Olympics <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/faith-kipyegon-14413305">dating back to 2016</a>, the 29-year-old Kipyegon has only missed out on 1,500m gold once. That was in 2019 when the championships took place 15 months after <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/66445312">she gave birth</a> to her daughter. </p>
<p>She has comfortably won Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2021 as well as her multiple world championship titles. She broke the 1,500m world record in June 2023 and just a week later stunned the stadium – and herself – by smashing the 5,000m world record. It was only her third race over the distance. Her season has simply been outstanding – also breaking the world record for the mile.</p>
<p>The 2023 World Athletics Championships <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/faith-kipyegon-on-pushing-her-legacy-beyond-titles-and-going-for-the-800m-world-record-if-the-chance-comes">cemented her legacy</a> and <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">single season success</a> – which compares to other historic feats such as US stars Usain Bolt’s 2009 and Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 1988 performances.</p>
<h2>Who is Faith Kipyegon?</h2>
<p>The eighth of nine children, Kipyegon grew up on a farm in Ndabibit, a village in the Rift Valley province of Kenya. Like many kids educated in rural areas, she walked and jogged <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">many miles</a> to and from school. Little did she know that this would instil the fundamental locomotion and physical skills that would form the foundation of her athletics career. This walking is enhanced by the physical education and sports activities that children engage in while in school. </p>
<p>By 14, Kipyegon had tried her hand at football when, during a physical education class, she took part in her first 1km race. She finished far ahead of everyone else in class.</p>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">words</a> of Kipyegon, winning that race created an awareness that she could “run fast and be a good athlete”. Just two years later, she came fourth in the World Cross Country Championships under-19 event. At 16 she was the <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">youngest finisher</a> in the cross country top 21. Running barefoot, she started her winning trend at a cross country event the following year and achieved 1,500m Olympic gold in 2016.</p>
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<p>After world 1,500m titles in 2016 and 2017, Kipyegon took a break to give birth to her daughter, Alyn. She faced the conflict of many women athletes, between family and career. “I was so afraid, maybe I will not come back, I will just disappear,” she <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-41198239.html">said</a>. “I thought it was the end of my career, <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">but it was the beginning</a>.”</p>
<p>It took great mental strength to take a year off and gradually rebuild her stamina, strength and speed. In a vibrant comeback, she seems stronger than ever. Winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s world championships made her the first woman to claim four global outdoor titles in the 1,500m, thus the greatest <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">female mile runner ever</a>.</p>
<p>Kipyegon spends five days a week training, separated from Alyn and her husband Timothy Kitum, the 2012 Olympic 800m bronze medallist, who serves in the army in Kenya. For all three of her world records, she wore a bracelet adorned with her daughter’s name and the colours of the Kenyan flag. Alyn wears a matching bracelet while doing schoolwork back home.</p>
<h2>Well deserved victories</h2>
<p>Her successes on the track have brought riches to her and her family. The Kenyan government has <a href="https://www.africanews.com/2023/06/17/kenya-runner-kipyegon-rewarded-with-35000-and-house-for-breaking-2-world-records//#:%7E:text=Distance%20runner%20Faith%20Kipyegon%20was,the%20space%20of%20a%20week.">rewarded</a> her excellent performances with cash and a house.</p>
<p>During a recent <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">speech</a> she broke into tears, saying:</p>
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<p>Now I can buy my father a car. I promised him when I was going to break a world record that I’m going to buy a car for him. So now I can fulfil my promise.</p>
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<p>Kipyegon’s humble background meant that her parents couldn’t watch her win gold at the 2016 Olympic Games because they didn’t even have electricity in their rural home. It is inspirational to see what her vision, focus and application have yielded over time. Her training environment at <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/faith-kipyegon-world-championships-track-and-field-kenya">Kaptagat</a> in Kenya also reveals her humility. She’s part of a group of 30 or so athletes who largely live together and share chores, along with marathon world record holder <a href="https://theconversation.com/kipchoges-marathon-success-remains-a-mystery-some-clues-from-my-research-117040">Eliud Kipchoge</a>.</p>
<p>Kipyegon’s story is worth telling. She stands as an inspiration to countless girls back home and, indeed, a continent.</p>
<p><em>This article was updated to reflect Kipyegon’s wins at the 2023 World Athletics Championships</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211915/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>With three world records to her name, Faith Kipyegon is competing for two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2110372023-08-04T15:29:41Z2023-08-04T15:29:41ZFootball world cup: African women make their mark, against all odds<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/541190/original/file-20230804-25-tmk846.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Morocco football players celebrate with fans.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Aitor Alcalde - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco booked their places in the round of 16 of the women’s football World Cup, as Germany, Brazil and Canada packed their bags to head home at the conclusion of the group stages on 3 August 2023. That’s three of the top 10 teams from the Fifa world rankings <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398116">out</a> in the group stage, and the US only runners-up in their group. This is the first time that three African teams made it to the second round and a great indicator that the quality of the game is improving. </p>
<p>For me, as a scholar of <a href="https://www.uttyler.edu/directory/hkdept/wycliffe-njororai.php">sport science</a> with a strong <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Wycliffe+W.+Njororai+Simiyu&btnG=">research focus</a> on African football, it’s encouraging to see how the expansion of the tournament from 24 to 32 nations seems to have opened up opportunities for new teams raring to announce their presence on the world stage. African teams, among other non-traditional power houses like Colombia and Jamaica, have indeed showed up to unsettle any pre-tournament expectations.</p>
<p>Given that women’s football is a relatively new phenomenon in many African countries, the accomplishment of the women’s teams sends a powerful signal to their respective national federations, the Confederation of African Football and governments that they deserve more attention and investment. </p>
<p>Indeed, women’s football could be a great avenue for African countries to earn global footballing recognition just as it has been in <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/fifa-u17-world-cup-2023-caf-produces-four-finalists-as-afcon-u17-crawls">age group competitions</a>. </p>
<h2>Debutantes cause a stir</h2>
<p>Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses, who are in the tournament for the first time, are carrying the weight of being the first women’s team from the Arab world to play on the World Cup stage. Ranked 72nd coming into the world cup, they caused ripples when they beat Colombia and South Korea 1-0 to edge out Germany as the runners-up in group H.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/africa-at-the-womens-world-cup-football-nigeria-south-africa-morocco-and-zambia-could-cause-upsets-209978">Africa at the Women’s World Cup football: Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia could cause upsets</a>
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<p>Their two victories have raised their confidence as they move to the round of 16. This sets up a mouth-watering clash with France, who are in devastating form. </p>
<p>Out of the eight debutantes in Australia and New Zealand, the Atlas Lionesses are the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398182">last women standing</a>. Their success is a credit to FIFA broadening opportunities for non-traditional football dominant regions after a very successful 2019 World Cup tournament by <a href="https://the18.com/soccer-news/fifa-womens-world-cup-expansion-32-teams-2023">increasing slots</a> from 24 to 32. The Moroccan government also deserves credit for investment in a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398182">football academy</a> that seeks to produce international quality footballers from both boys and girls. The recent high profile successes for both the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/football/morocco-spain-quarter-finals-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html">men’s</a> and women’s Moroccan teams are carefully planned and executed, and not just an accident or coincidence.</p>
<h2>South Africa overcome pre-tournament chaos</h2>
<p>South Africa’s Banyana Banyana team (ranked 54th worldwide), who lost all three of their matches in the 2019 group stages, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/womens-world-cup/schedule">secured</a> a place in the last 16 with their first ever Women’s World Cup win – a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italy – and drawing with Argentina 2-2. One player who has stood out is Thembi Kgatlana, who has scored twice and assisted on two goals. </p>
<p>The reward for South Africa’s progress was a clash with the Netherlands, which they <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/66378179">sadly lost</a> 2-0. Nevertheless, the tournament is a historic achievement for the side, who put the <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/articles/soccer/south-africa-womens-world-cup-team-sits-out-game-in-pay-dispute-as-13yearold-player-called-in">turbulent</a> pre-tournament preparations, including pay disputes and build-up match boycotts, behind them as they advanced. </p>
<h2>The Super Falcons are flying</h2>
<p>The other African women’s team to advance is Nigeria, ranked 40th by Fifa before the tournament. The team has surpassed expectations in an extremely difficult Group B to qualify for the last 16 for a second consecutive World Cup.</p>
<p>The underdog Super Falcons drew with Canada 0-0, beat Australia 3-2 and drew with Republic of Ireland 0-0 to emerge runners-up in Group B. In the process, they edged out the current Olympic champions, Canada, at the group stage of the tournament. They remain unbeaten.</p>
<p>The Nigerians have done well, given that they were reportedly on the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66398116">verge</a> of boycotting matches over pay and conditions. They are now set to clash with England, the European champions, in the <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/nigeria-vs-england-why-super-falcons-face-tough-test-against-james-lionesses/">battle of the unbeaten!</a>.</p>
<p>Nigeria, the nine-time African champions, have the experience and strength to cope with the marauding Lionesses, who are hitting their stride at the right time after thrashing China 6-1 to head their pool table.</p>
<h2>Ready to compete</h2>
<p>Three African teams, Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco, have made the continent proud by qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Women’s World Cup. Their message is, “We are here to compete”. Zambia have departed the stage with heads held high as they finished third in their group after beating Costa Rica 3-1. </p>
<p>The self-belief and confidence, as well as the technical and tactical astuteness displayed by the African teams, shows that their opponents cannot take them lightly. Indeed, Netherlands, England and France are all in for tough battles.</p>
<p><em>This article was edited to reflect updates in the matches.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211037/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>African teams take the football world cup by storm.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2100802023-07-20T14:19:08Z2023-07-20T14:19:08ZL'Afrique à la Coupe du monde de football féminin : le Nigeria, l'Afrique du Sud, le Maroc et la Zambie pourraient créer la surprise<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/538326/original/file-20230719-20-ycd0mv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Barbra Banda (devant à droite) et ses coéquipières zambiennes célèbrent une victoire amicale contre l'Allemagne.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Le Maroc et la Zambie feront leurs débuts en <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/fr/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023">Coupe du monde féminine de la Fifa</a> en 2023. L'Afrique du Sud doit retrouver le moral à la suite d'un différend sur les primes et le Nigeria mène à nouveau la charge pour le continent.</p>
<p>Le <a href="https://www.eurosport.fr/football/coupe-du-monde-feminine/2023/je-ne-sais-meme-pas-quil-y-avait-un-mondial-a-sydney-lambiance-monte-doucement._sto9707748/story.shtml">tournoi</a>, organisé par l'Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande, se déroule pour la première fois dans l'hémisphère sud, du 20 juillet au 20 août. </p>
<p>Il a pris de l'ampleur cette année, avec 32 nations en lice pour le trophée au lieu de 24. Cela permet à de nouvelles équipes d'accéder à la phase à élimination directe (les 16 premières places) du tournoi.</p>
<p>En tant que professeur et chercheur en sciences du sport avec <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VMnwWDoAAAAJ&hl=en">fort intérêt</a> pour le football africain, je suis attentivement l'évolution du football féminin sur le continent.</p>
<p>Bien que les quatre équipes africaines qualifiées ne fassent pas partie des favoris pour soulever le trophée de la Coupe du monde, il y a de fortes chances que l'une d'entre elles parvienne à se qualifier pour les matches à élimination directe. En tout cas, elles ont toutes le potentiel pour faire bouger les choses.</p>
<h2>Zambie</h2>
<p>La <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/zambia/team-news">Zambie</a> espère faire une grande impression pour une première participation à ce tournoi d'élite. Aux Jeux olympiques d'été de Tokyo 2020, l'équipe a montré des <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/what-we-learned-womens-football-tokyo-2020-olympics">coups de génie</a> que beaucoup espèrent voir se multiplier. §Lors des Jeux olympiques, l'attaquante vedette <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/ronaldo-inspired-zambia-striker-barbra-banda">Barbra Banda</a> a pris les devants en devenant la première femme à marquer deux triplés consécutifs aux Jeux.</p>
<p>Elle a également été au cœur de la <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-women-world-cup-2023-preview-teams-to-watch">victoire surprise</a> contre l'Allemagne avant la Coupe du monde 2023 et jouera sans aucun doute un rôle déterminant dans cette compétition. Comme elle est la première footballeuse professionnelle de Zambie, on attend beaucoup de <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/barbra-banda-zambia-awcon">Banda</a>. Son <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/the-future-is-now-for-zambia-s-star-barbra-banda">mantra</a> est le suivant :</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Laisser mon empreinte, mon propre nom, mon propre livre des records.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Les adversaires de la Zambie sont le Japon, vainqueur de la Coupe du monde en 2011, le Costa Rica et l'Espagne. </p>
<h2>Maroc</h2>
<p>L'équipe nationale du <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/morocco/team-news">Maroc</a>, les Lionnes de l'Atlas, fera également ses <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/moroccos-historic-womens-world-cup-debut-provides-inspiration">débuts</a>. Elles auront sur leurs épaules la responsabilité d'être la première équipe féminine du monde arabe à jouer sur la scène de la Coupe du monde. Les pays arabes, où il y a beaucoup de <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2022/11/22/Arab-football-fans-speak-of-pride-over-first-World-Cup-in-the-Middle-East">passionés</a> de football masculin, ne sont pas réputés en matière de participation des femmes aux sports d'équipe. </p>
<p>Il s'agit donc d'un effort pionnier qui ne manquera pas d'attirer l'attention du monde entier, surtout si le Maroc remporte quelques matches. On peut espérer que les <a href="https://theconversation.com/le-maroc-a-la-coupe-du-monde-les-6-raisons-dune-victoire-historique-196364">efforts héroïques</a> de leurs homologues masculins lors de la Coupe du monde 2022 inspireront l'équipe féminine.</p>
<p>Le <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65911499">Maroc</a>, finaliste de la Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2022, affrontera l'Allemagne, double championne, la Colombie et la République de Corée. Sa joueuse vedette est <a href="https://theathletic.com/3442138/2022/07/23/rosella-ayane-morroco-wafcon/">Rosella Ayane</a>, née au Royaume-Uni mais qui a choisi de jouer pour le pays de son père. L'attaquante est l'étincelle offensive dont le Maroc avait besoin, avec sept buts en 15 matches depuis ses débuts internationaux en tant que grande joueuse en 2021. </p>
<h2>Afrique du Sud</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/south-africa/team-news">L'Afrique du Sud</a> est devenue une force dans le football féminin africain. L'équipe a remporté la Coupe d'Afrique des Nations féminine 2022, son premier titre majeur. Cependant, elle aborde la Coupe du monde avec une ombre au tableau car elle a <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/articles/soccer/south-africa-womens-world-cup-team-sits-out-game-in-pay-dispute-as-13yearold-player-called-in">refusé de jouer</a> son dernier match de préparation contre le Botswana en raison d'un problème de primes. Les joueuses se sont souvent plaintes de ne pas bénéficier de la même reconnaissance ou des mêmes avantages que l'équipe masculine, une <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghana-is-flying-3-million-in-cash-to-the-world-cup-2014-6">caractéristique commune</a> du football africain. L'équipe sud-africaine et ses responsables doivent rapidement résoudre leurs différends pour se concentrer sur leurs prochains matchs, face à la Suède, l'Argentine et l'Italie.</p>
<p>L'Afrique du Sud s'appuie sur un <a href="https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/south-africa-women-world-cup-2023-squad-team-roster-players">effectif jeune</a>. La majorité des joueuses évoluent dans leur pays d'origine et sont au sommet de leur art ou font preuve d'un enthousiasme juvénile débordant. L'Afrique du Sud sera emmenée par sa joueuse vedette <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/thembi-kgatlana-south-africa-challenging-stereotypes-women-football">Thembi Kgatlana</a>, qui a marqué le premier - et jusqu'à présent le seul - but du pays en Coupe du monde lorsqu'elle a donné l'avantage aux Banyana Banyana contre l'Espagne en 2019. Kgatlana a joué en club dans le monde entier. </p>
<h2>Nigeria</h2>
<p>Le <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/nigeria/team-news">Nigeria</a> participe à la Coupe du monde depuis sa première édition en 1991. Il a obtenu ses meilleurs résultats en atteignant les quarts de finale en 1999 et se qualifiant pour le deuxième tour en 2019. Les Nigériannes affronteront l'Australie, coorganisatrice de la compétition, ainsi que le Canada et l'Irlande, qui fait ses débuts dans la compétition. </p>
<p>Le Nigeria sera emmené par sa joueuse vedette, <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/nigerias-asisat-oshoala-already-the-greatest-african-woman-footballer">Asisat Oshoala</a>, qui a remporté de nombreux succès partout où elle a joué. Elle a remporté cinq fois le titre de footballeuse africaine de l'année et a marqué lors des Coupes du monde 2015 et 2019.</p>
<h2>Une chance pour les outsiders</h2>
<p>Les équipes féminines africaines ne sont pas <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230609">classées</a> très haut à l'approche de la Coupe du monde féminine 2023. Le Nigeria est le mieux classé (40e), suivi de l'Afrique du Sud (54e), du Maroc (72e) et de la Zambie (77e). </p>
<p>Cependant, il y a un fort espoir qu'avec le nouveau format élargi du tournoi, une équipe africaine puisse se montrer à la hauteur et provoquer suffisamment de surprises pour se qualifier pour les huitièmes de finale du tournoi.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210080/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Le Nigeria est en tête du classement des quatre équipes africaines. Deux autres font leur première apparition à la Coupe du Monde, tandis qu'un nuage sombre plane au-dessus de l'Afrique du Sud.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2099782023-07-18T14:32:39Z2023-07-18T14:32:39ZAfrica at the Women’s World Cup football: Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia could cause upsets<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/538019/original/file-20230718-25-v048cb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Barbra Banda (front right) and her Zambian teammates celebrate a friendly win over Germany.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Morocco and Zambia are making their <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023">Fifa Women’s World Cup</a> debut in 2023. South Africa must recover their morale after a pay dispute and Nigeria once again leads the charge for the continent.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/2023-fifa-womens-world-cup">tournament</a>, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is being held in the southern hemisphere for the first time – from 20 July until 20 August. </p>
<p>It has expanded this year, with 32 nations competing for the trophy instead of 24. This opens up opportunities for new teams to reach the knockout phase (final 16) of the tournament.</p>
<p>As a professor and scholar of sport science with a strong <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VMnwWDoAAAAJ&hl=en">research focus</a> on African football, I have been following the growing women’s game on the continent with interest.</p>
<p>Although the four African teams to qualify are not among the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy, there’s a strong chance one of them could make it to the knockouts. Certainly, they all have the potential to stir things up.</p>
<h2>Zambia</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/zambia/team-news">Zambia</a> are hoping to make a big impact as they appear at this elite tournament for the first time. At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, the team showed <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/what-we-learned-womens-football-tokyo-2020-olympics">glimpses of brilliance</a> that many expect to see more of. During the Olympics, star striker <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/ronaldo-inspired-zambia-striker-barbra-banda">Barbra Banda</a> led from the front, becoming the first woman to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the games.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/womens-afcon-final-stage-is-underway-with-a-new-challenge-testosterone-testing-186471">Women's Afcon final stage is underway with a new challenge - testosterone testing</a>
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<p>She was also at the heart of a <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-women-world-cup-2023-preview-teams-to-watch">shock win</a> over Germany ahead of the 2023 World Cup and will no doubt be instrumental in this competition. As she is the first professional woman footballer from Zambia, a lot is expected from <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/barbra-banda-zambia-awcon">Banda</a>. Her <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/the-future-is-now-for-zambia-s-star-barbra-banda">mantra</a> is:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>To leave a mark, my own name, my own record book.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Zambia’s opponents include the 2011 World Cup champions Japan, Costa Rica and Spain.</p>
<h2>Morocco</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/morocco/team-news">Morocco</a>’s national team, the Atlas Lionesses, will also be making their <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/moroccos-historic-womens-world-cup-debut-provides-inspiration">debut</a>. They carry the weight of being the first women’s team from the Arab world to play on the World Cup stage. Arab countries, where many are <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2022/11/22/Arab-football-fans-speak-of-pride-over-first-World-Cup-in-the-Middle-East">wild</a> for the men’s game, are not known to have women participate in team sports. </p>
<p>This will, therefore, be a trailblazing effort that’s bound to attract worldwide attention, especially if Morocco were to win a few matches. One would hope that the <a href="https://theconversation.com/morocco-at-the-2022-world-cup-6-forces-behind-a-history-making-performance-196359">heroic efforts</a> of their male counterparts at the 2022 World Cup will inspire the women’s team.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65911499">Morocco</a>, the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations runners-up, will take on two-time champions Germany, Colombia and Korea Republic. Their star player is <a href="https://theathletic.com/3442138/2022/07/23/rosella-ayane-morroco-wafcon/">Rosella Ayane</a>, born in the UK but opting to play for the country of her father’s family. The striker is the forward spark Morocco needed, with seven goals in 15 games since her senior international debut in 2021. </p>
<h2>South Africa</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/south-africa/team-news">South Africa</a> have become a powerful force in African women’s football. The team won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, their first major title. However, they head into the World Cup under a cloud after <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/articles/soccer/south-africa-womens-world-cup-team-sits-out-game-in-pay-dispute-as-13yearold-player-called-in">refusing to play</a> their final warm-up match against Botswana over a pay dispute. The players have often complained that they aren’t given the recognition or benefits that the men’s team gets, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghana-is-flying-3-million-in-cash-to-the-world-cup-2014-6">common feature</a> in African football. The South African team and their officials must quickly resolve their differences to focus on their upcoming matches, which include Sweden, Argentina and Italy.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/morocco-vs-south-africa-as-womens-football-enters-a-new-era-187267">Morocco vs South Africa as women's football enters a new era</a>
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<p>South Africa rely on a <a href="https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/south-africa-women-world-cup-2023-squad-team-roster-players">youthful squad</a>. The majority of players ply their trade in their home country and are in their peak years or have a certain youthful exuberance. South Africa will be led by their star player <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/thembi-kgatlana-south-africa-challenging-stereotypes-women-football">Thembi Kgatlana</a>, who scored the country’s first – and so far only – goal on the World Cup stage when she put Banyana Banyana ahead against Spain in 2019. Kgatlana has played club football all around the world. </p>
<h2>Nigeria</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/teams/nigeria/team-news">Nigeria</a> have been to the World Cup ever since its inaugural edition in 1991. Their best results were reaching the quarter-final in 1999 and qualifying for the second round in 2019. They’re scheduled to play co-hosts Australia, as well as Canada and debutantes Ireland. </p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/womens-football-in-nigeria-has-a-long-history-of-defiance-154573">Women's football in Nigeria has a long history of defiance</a>
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<p>Nigeria will be led by their star player, <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/nigerias-asisat-oshoala-already-the-greatest-african-woman-footballer">Asisat Oshoala</a>, who has a record of success wherever she’s played. She is a five-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award and scored in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, so will be aiming to make it three in a row.</p>
<h2>Outside chance</h2>
<p>African women’s teams are not <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230609">ranked</a> highly as they enter the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria is the highest ranked at 40, followed by South Africa at 54, Morocco at 72 and Zambia at 77. </p>
<p>However, there is strong hope that with the newly expanded tournament, an African team can rise to the occasion and cause enough upsets to make it to the knockout rounds of the tournament.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209978/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Nigeria leads in the rankings of the four African teams. Two others are making debut World Cup appearances and there’s a storm cloud over South Africa.Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1883322022-08-23T12:24:02Z2022-08-23T12:24:02ZDolphins use signature whistles to represent other dolphins – similarly to how humans use names<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479186/original/file-20220815-11-q79gbl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=120%2C699%2C4365%2C2869&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Bottlenose dolphins are extremely social animals that communicate constantly.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/dolphins-underwater-royalty-free-image/89619678?adppopup=true">Micha Pawlitzki/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Bottlenose dolphins’ signature whistles just passed an important test in animal psychology. A new study by my colleagues and me has shown that these animals may use their whistles as namelike concepts.</p>
<p>By presenting urine and the sounds of signature whistles to dolphins, my colleagues <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KhKIWqcAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">Vincent Janik</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LdOMUTYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">Sam Walmsey</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Z9Z9u2EAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">I</a> recently showed that these whistles <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm7684">act as representations of the individuals who own them</a>, similar to human names. For behavioral biologists like us, this is an incredibly exciting result. It is the first time this type of representational naming has been found in any other animal aside from humans.</p>
<h2>The meaning of a name</h2>
<p>When you hear your friend’s name, you probably picture their face. Likewise, when you smell a friend’s perfume, that can also elicit an image of the friend. This is because humans build mental pictures of each other using more than just one sense. All of the different information from your senses that is associated with a person converges to form a mental representation of that individual - a name with a face, a smell and many other sensory characteristics.</p>
<p>Within the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.1997.9753352">first few months of life</a>, dolphins invent their own specific identity calls – called <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/207434a0">signature whistles</a>. Dolphins often announce their location to or greet other individuals in a pod by sending out their own signature whistles. But researchers have not known if, when a dolphin hears the signature whistle of a dolphin they are familiar with, they actively picture the calling individual. My colleagues and I were interested in determining if dolphin calls are representational in the same way human names invoke many thoughts of an individual.</p>
<p><audio preload="metadata" controls="controls" data-duration="1" data-image="" data-title="Dolphins use signature whistles to identify themselves." data-size="32290" data-source="Jason Bruck" data-source-url="" data-license="CC BY-ND" data-license-url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">
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Dolphins use signature whistles to identify themselves.
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No two signature whistles are the same.
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<p>Because <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/anatomy-of-dolphins/cozzi/978-0-12-407229-9">dolphins cannot smell</a>, they rely principally on signature whistles to identify each other in the ocean. Dolphins can also copy another dolphin’s whistles as a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1304459110">way to address each other</a>.</p>
<p>My previous research showed that dolphins have great memory for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.1726">each other’s whistles</a>, but scientists argued that a dolphin might hear a whistle, know it sounds familiar, but <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2013.13519">not remember who</a> the whistle belongs to. My colleagues and I wanted to determine if dolphins could associate signature whistles with the specific owner of that whistle. This would address whether or not dolphins remember and hold representations of other dolphins in their minds.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A person standing next to a dolphin holding a vial of urine." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479189/original/file-20220815-19-iv7nt8.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The researchers found that dolphins can identify each other by swimming through and tasting urine, the liquid in the syringe in this photo.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Dolphin Quest</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Urine as an identifier</h2>
<p>The first thing my colleagues and I needed to do was find another sense that dolphins use to identify each other. In the 1980s and 1990s, researchers studying spinner dolphins in Hawaii noticed that the dolphins were occasionally <a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520082083/the-hawaiian-spinner-dolphin">swimming through each other’s urine</a> and feces with their mouths open. Using these observations as a springboard, my colleagues and I decided to test if dolphins were able to identify each other from urine.</p>
<p>We began by first collecting urine from dolphins under managed care and simply pouring small amounts of it into lagoons where the dolphins live. The dolphins immediately showed interest, and with little training, quickly began to follow the research team anytime we carried poles with cups filled with urine. When we poured urine into the water, the dolphins would open their mouths and swim through the urine plume.</p>
<p>Our team then got urine from dolphins at other facilities to see if the subjects could differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar urine. The dolphins spent more than twice the amount of time with their mouths open tasting familiar urine compared to unfamiliar urine, providing the first evidence that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm7684">dolphins can identify other individuals by taste</a>. </p>
<p>With this, my colleagues and I had what we needed to test representation in signature whistles.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A person with a long pole leading a dolphin towards a speaker" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479191/original/file-20220815-11-9s4ix2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">By pairing urine samples – in the cup at the end of the pole – with the sounds of signature whistles played from an underwater speaker, it was possible to test whether dolphins would recognize if the urine and a whistle were from the same individual.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Dolphin Quest</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Pairing urine and whistles</h2>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2007.10.005">Previous studies in children</a> have successfully used multiple senses to show that pre-linguistic infants can form conceptual representations of people. My colleagues and I used this type of work as a theoretical basis for our second experiment.</p>
<p>In our experiment, the team first led a dolphin to a speaker before pouring a small amount of urine into the water. After the dolphin tasted the urine, we quickly played the sound of another dolphin’s signature whistle. Sometimes that whistle would be from the same individual as the pee sample. Other times the urine and whistle would not match. The goal was to test if the dolphins react differently if the urine and whistle were from the same dolphin compared with if the urine and whistle were from two different dolphins. If there was a consistent difference in how long the dolphins hovered close to the speaker in the matched or unmatched scenarios, it would indicate the dolphins <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1008169108">knew and recognized when a whistle and urine sample</a> were from the same individual – the same way a person might connect the name of a friend to that friend’s favorite perfume</p>
<p>We found that, on average, when the urine and whistle matched, dolphins spent about 30 seconds investigating the speaker. When there was a mismatch, they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm7684">only stuck around for about 20 seconds</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A person collecting data while a dolphin swims behind him." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/479190/original/file-20220815-485-6v7b4b.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">When dolphins were presented with matching urine and whistles, they hovered near the speaker longer than when the samples were not from the same individual.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Dolphin Quest</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The fact that the dolphins consistently reacted more strongly to matches than mismatches indicates that they understand which whistles correspond with which urine. This uses the same framework as other studies that use matching sensory information to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1008169108">demonstrate that animals have mental representations of individuals</a>.</p>
<p>But what makes dolphins different is that they aren’t just matching physical qualities – face with a smell, for example. They are doing this with signature whistles they invent themselves. Just as you can hear a name and imagine a face with all the associated memories, dolphins can hear a signature whistle and match the urine cue. </p>
<h2>Dolphin language?</h2>
<p>This work demonstrates that dolphins have self-created signals that are representational, just as humans have invented names that are representational. Representation opens the possibility that dolphins could theoretically make third-dolphin references – where two dolphins that are communicating refer to a third dolphin that is not in the immediate vicinity. If dolphins can refer to dolphins that aren’t around them presently, this would be similar to the mental time travel a person does when speaking about a friend they haven’t seen in years.</p>
<p>Signature whistles represent the most language-like aspect of dolphin communication currently known. However, the scientific community knows little about <a href="https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1998.0881">dolphin non-signature calls</a> or the functions of their <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255649978_High-Frequency_Burst-Pulse_Sounds_in_AgonisticAggressive_Interactions_in_Bottlenose_Dolphins_Tursiops_truncatus">other acoustic signals</a>. With further research into how dolphins communicate with sound – as well as with chemicals – it may be possible to better understand the minds of these mammals.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188332/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jason Bruck does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Using urine and signature whistles from other dolphins, a team of scientists has shown that dolphins use signature whistles like names and hold mental representations of other dolphins in their minds.Jason Bruck, Assistant Professor of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1872542022-07-26T11:58:20Z2022-07-26T11:58:20Z3 reasons US coal power is disappearing – and a Supreme Court ruling won’t save it<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475714/original/file-20220722-26-44ugwr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=366%2C485%2C4283%2C2792&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Coal was the dominant fuel for U.S. power plants until 2016. This PacifiCorp power plant in Utah still uses it.
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/pacificorps-hunter-coal-fired-power-pant-releases-steam-as-news-photo/1182367628">George Frey/AFP via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The U.S. coal industry chalked up a rare win this summer when the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1530_n758.pdf">issued a ruling</a> limiting the government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. But that doesn’t mean coal-fired power plants will make a comeback. </p>
<p>As an economist, I analyze the coal industry, including power plant construction and retirement plans. I see three main reasons U.S. coal plants will continue to close down.</p>
<p>A detail related to the Supreme Court case helps tell the story. The case, <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1530_n758.pdf">West Virginia v. EPA</a>, involved the <a href="https://archive.epa.gov/epa/cleanpowerplan/fact-sheet-overview-clean-power-plan.html">Clean Power Plan</a>, a set of Obama-era regulations proposed in 2015 that would have required power plants to make deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. For those powered by coal – historically the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions">dominant source of carbon dioxide emissions</a> in the U.S. electricity sector – that likely would have meant <a href="https://www.schwabe.com/newsroom-publications-Clean_Power_Plan_Update_070722">shifting away from coal</a> altogether. </p>
<p>Yet even though the Clean Power Plan never went into effect, coal use has declined so much that the U.S. power sector <a href="https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/#electricitygeneration/entiresector/allgas/category/all">has already met</a> the plan’s <a href="https://archive.epa.gov/epa/cleanpowerplan/fact-sheet-overview-clean-power-plan.html">2030 target</a>. </p>
<h2>Why the power sector is moving away from coal</h2>
<p>At its peak in 2007, coal was responsible for almost <a href="https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/mer.pdf">2 trillion kilowatt-hours</a> of electricity generation in the U.S., equivalent to powering over 186 million homes for the year.</p>
<p>By 2021, that total had <a href="https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860/">dropped by 55%</a>.</p>
<p>The drop was due in large part to an industrywide <a href="https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20150321">shift in electricity generation</a>, away from coal-fired units toward natural gas and renewable energy. That shift is happening for three main reasons.</p>
<p><iframe id="Hw5Hu" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Hw5Hu/3/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h2>1. Natural gas prices</h2>
<p>Natural gas prices have decreased significantly – <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/trends-in-electricity-prices-during-the-transition-away-from-coal.htm">over 60%</a> between 2003 and 2019 – mainly because of improvements in <a href="https://www.epa.gov/uog/process-unconventional-natural-gas-production">hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling</a>, which allow drillers to extract more gas from shale.</p>
<p>The influx of natural gas led to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.103.3.338">substantial increases in additions of natural gas-fired electricity generators</a>. These natural gas power plants are newer, have similar and sometimes lower fuel costs, and are more efficient at generating electricity than the existing coal-fired generators. </p>
<p>They also are able to come online at full power within one to 12 hours, while a coal-fired generator can take up to 24 hours to be fully ready to produce power. Because of this necessary lead time, it is difficult to rely on coal-fired generators when demand rises and the power grid needs more electricity quickly. </p>
<p>For example, the electric system faces the highest demand for electricity generation between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays. If demand spikes, a coal-fired generator will miss the window when electricity is needed. Natural gas generators can meet the demand much faster, often making them more profitable for utilities.</p>
<p><iframe id="VjiXw" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/VjiXw/11/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h2>2. The rise of renewable energy</h2>
<p>Solar and wind energy are now <a href="https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/May/Renewable-power-generation-costs-in-2018">cost competitive</a> with fossil-fueled generators, primarily because of technological advancements.</p>
<p>Many <a href="https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/state-renewable-energy-policies">states</a> and <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/incentives.php">the federal government</a> also offer incentives for renewable energy production, which lowers the cost to install them. President Joe Biden’s climate plan aims to increase those incentives. And, once built, renewable energy sources have no fuel costs and relatively low operational costs compared with coal-fired generators.</p>
<p>A record <a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50818">17.1 gigawatts</a> of wind capacity came online in the U.S. in 2021 <a href="https://windexchange.energy.gov/projects/tax-credits">after a tax incentive was extended</a>, and 7.6 gigawatts are planned this year.</p>
<p>Solar energy accounts for 46% of all new electricity generating capacity expected to join the grid in 2022, <a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50818">about 21.5 gigawatts</a>.</p>
<p><iframe id="CY8Gj" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/CY8Gj/3/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h2>3. Environmental regulation</h2>
<p>The government has instituted several environmental regulations over the past few decades aiming to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, mercury and other hazardous air pollutants <a href="https://www.epa.gov/regulatory-information-sector/electric-power-generation-transmission-and-distribution-naics-2211">emitted</a> by the electric power sector. </p>
<p>These hazardous emissions are <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php">linked</a> to health problems including respiratory illnesses and neurological and developmental damage, as well as smog, acid rain and climate change. According to the <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-12-545r#:%7E:text=Compared%20with%20natural%20gas%20units,and%20carbon%20than%20natural%20gas.">U.S. Government Accountability Office</a>, coal-fired generators are by far the largest electricity-sector sources.</p>
<p>To comply with the regulations, coal power plant operators have installed scrubbers to remove the pollutants from their emissions, switched coal types to lower-sulfur coal, and invested in other methods to reduce sulfur and other impurities. As a result, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1756-2171.12294">costs have increased</a> for the coal-fired fleet.</p>
<p>These higher environmental mitigation costs, coupled with lower wholesale electricity prices over recent years, have meant coal plant operators have had a tougher time recovering the cost of the capital investments to maintain their older coal-fired generators. Instead, many have chosen to retire those units.</p>
<p><iframe id="HSXEx" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HSXEx/9/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h2>Coal power’s future: More early retirements</h2>
<p>So what does this mean for the future of U.S. coal power?</p>
<p>The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that coal generators account for <a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50838">85% of the electric generating capacity</a> being retired this year nationwide.</p>
<p>This trend is expected to continue, with substantial coal generator retirements occurring <a href="https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/AEO2022_Narrative.pdf">by 2030</a>. This is a result of both market factors – cheap natural gas and affordable renewable energy – and regulatory measures.</p>
<p>Coal is used more widely in other countries, including China, and U.S. coal companies have <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/imports-and-exports.php">increased their exports</a> in recent years. However, at the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59159018">2021 United Nations climate change conference</a>, over 40 countries committed to completely shift away from coal, and 20 others – including the U.S. – pledged to stop government financing of coal use, unless it includes carbon capture technology. </p>
<p>The Biden administration, which has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/climate/biden-inflation-climate-manchin.html">struggled to get its climate policies</a> through a deeply divided Congress, appeared to have movement on a large climate change-focused package in late July. An agreement announced by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/3577308-schumer-manchin-agree-on-billions-of-dollars-for-electric-vehicles-solar-panels-and-other-clean-energy-priorities/">included support for renewable energy and electric vehicles</a>. The administration has been weighing new regulatory options that could further affect the cost of generating electricity with coal.</p>
<p>It all adds up to a difficult economic environment for U.S. coal power for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p><em>This article was updated July 28, 2022, with an agreement announced on Biden’s climate plan.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/187254/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rebecca J. Davis receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. </span></em></p>An economist explains coal power’s rise and fall in charts.Rebecca J. Davis, Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1258712019-10-27T18:47:47Z2019-10-27T18:47:47ZShould I let my kid climb trees? We asked five experts<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298656/original/file-20191025-115739-w36i80.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Falls are the main reason for childhood injuries, but kids usually recover.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>We often remember childhood as a time when life seemed infinite and adventures in our backyard felt expansive, as if we were exploring other worlds. </p>
<p>Climbing a tree was its own adventure. You could discover what you were capable of, while also getting the chance to see the world from a different vantage point. </p>
<p>Of course, sometimes you’d fall. But that’s to be expected – there’s a risk in every journey of discovery. </p>
<p>Parents want their children to enjoy the same joys of childhood they look back on fondly, but many struggle with getting the balance right – how much freedom can you give while also making sure your child is safe? </p>
<p>We asked five experts – including a paediatric surgeon who operates on children who’ve fallen out of a tree – if it’s OK to let kids climb trees.</p>
<h2>Five out of five experts said yes</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=99&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=99&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=99&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=125&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=125&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/293524/original/file-20190923-23817-110yysw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=125&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Although, in every case, it’s a yes, but… </p>
<p><strong><em>Here are their detailed responses:</em></strong></p>
<p><iframe id="tc-infographic-445" class="tc-infographic" height="400px" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/445/5d53ea20eff10486391f3a26e41f28e42f559ced/site/index.html" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<hr>
<p><em>If you have a <strong>“yes or no”</strong> education question you’d like posed to Five Experts, email your suggestion to: sasha.petrova@theconversation.edu.au</em></p>
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<p><em>Disclosures: Shelby Laird is a member of the North American Association for Environmental Education as well as its local affiliate, Environmental Educators of North Carolina.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125871/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
Every expert we asked talked about the importance of letting children take risks and explore in nature. But they also advised parents to supervise and set limits.Sasha Petrova, Section Editor: EducationLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/691292017-01-09T19:34:33Z2017-01-09T19:34:33ZFive ways kids can benefit from being outside this summer break<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/149000/original/image-20161207-25738-1y7430e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Simply being exposed to nature can help children better cope with stress.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from www.shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The summer break is well underway. The weather is warming and kids are getting used to some time away from school. </p>
<p>Parents, meanwhile, are trying to find ways to keep the kids entertained over the break. </p>
<p>Chances are you remember your own childhood summers full of adventures outdoors in some plot of green near your home. Perhaps you had cubby houses or made cakes out of mud or just ran around seeking shade under the nearest tree.</p>
<p>For this generation, not only have changes in families’ lifestyles resulted in children spending much less time outdoors than in previous generations, but many children prefer to spend time indoors playing electronic games, rather than getting out in nature. </p>
<p>In fact, the majority of children <a href="http://www.beactive.wa.gov.au/assets/files/Research/Updated%20CAPANS%202008%20reprot.pdf">spend more</a> than the recommended maximum of two hours per day involved in “screen time”. In a 2009 study, researchers found that over half of the Australian children studied between the ages of ten to 12 spent <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2661046/">less than 1 hour outside each day</a>.</p>
<p>But there are plenty of physical and mental benefits to outdoor time for children. Here are just a few reasons to get outside this summer.</p>
<h2>1. Physical health</h2>
<p>Research shows that children who play outside are more active and generally have a <a href="http://treeday.planetark.org/documents/doc-813-planting-trees-key-findings-2012-06-27-final.pdf">lower risk of childhood obesity</a> due to higher levels of physical activity generally (how many children do you know that sit perfectly still outside?). </p>
<p>Also, children who take part in school veggie gardening projects <a href="http://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/program-tools/benefits-and-research/key-findings/">develop more healthy eating habits</a>, including making healthier food choices. Children are more curious about a variety of foods when they have watched them grow.</p>
<p>Interestingly, at least <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/more-time-outside-tied-to-less-nearsightedness-in-children/">one study also shows</a> that the more time a child spends outside, the lower their risk is for shortsightedness. An increase of about 45 minutes of outdoor time per day is enough to make a difference, which doctors suspect has to do with higher levels of light outside.</p>
<h2>2. Immune system</h2>
<p>Exposure to sunlight increases the body’s natural production of Vitamin D3. Children who are outside create more of this vitamin, which is important for bone and muscle development. It is also beneficial for overall health, but balancing your sun exposure is particularly important during the summer months, so <a href="http://www.sunsmart.com.au/vitamin-d/how-much-sun-is-enough">remember to use sun protection as needed</a>. </p>
<p>Despite the old adage that going out in the rain will make you sick, growing up on a farm can <a href="http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v10/n12/abs/nri2871.html">protect children from allergies and asthma</a>. A day out playing in the rain does not make you ill - the most important thing is to be sure children are adequately dressed.</p>
<h2>3. Cognitive skills</h2>
<p>There are many benefits of natural environments in relation to how children’s brains work. </p>
<p>Research shows that being outdoors can lead to a range of cognitive benefits for children, including <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26080420">better memory</a>, <a href="http://jad.sagepub.com/content/12/5/402">improvements in Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms</a>, <a href="http://sfrc.ufl.edu/urbanforestry/Resources/PDF%20downloads/Wells_2000.pdf">improved concentration</a>, and <a href="https://www.whitehutchinson.com/children/articles/benefits.shtml">better reasoning skills</a>. </p>
<p>It is thought that exposure to nature <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/112/26/7937.full">plays a positive role in brain development</a> by providing children with opportunities to take risks, discover new things, be creative, develop a sense of wonder and engage in new tasks. </p>
<h2>4. Psychological state</h2>
<p>Children can also benefit psychologically from being outdoors. </p>
<p>Research shows that exposure to natural environments can lead to a <a href="http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/docs/Forest_school_2.pdf">reduction in anger</a>, a <a href="https://www.wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u58/2015/Challenge_Programs.pdf">decreased risk for problem behaviour</a>, greater <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630057">respect for self and others</a>, greater autonomy and a reduction in <a href="http://news.ubc.ca/2016/04/11/kids-more-active-less-depressed-when-playgrounds-include-natural-elements/">depressive symptoms</a>. </p>
<p>Children’s ability to regulate their emotions is also improved through exposure to nature. </p>
<p>Attention Restoration Theory (ART) is one explanation for how exposure to nature helps children psychologically. It is thought that modern life requires extended periods of concentration, which leads to mental fatigue. This can make a person irritable and easily distracted. Exposure to nature, however, can help to repair this mental fatigue and <a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/19/12/1207">restore a person’s wellbeing</a>. </p>
<h2>5. Wellbeing</h2>
<p>Children’s general wellbeing can also be helped by exposure to nature. </p>
<p>Studies have found that even the simple presence of nature (trees, grass, plants) near children’s homes can help children <a href="http://eab.sagepub.com/content/35/3/311.abstract">better cope with stress</a>. </p>
<p>It also seems that spending time in nature can have long lasting benefits into adulthood. Research shows that children who spend more time in nature grow up to <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611003665">feel more connected to nature</a> and have more <a href="http://www.peecworks.org/PEEC/PEEC_Research/S01798C0C-01A68781">positive attitudes about environmental sustainability</a>. </p>
<p>The stress reduction theory offers one explanation for the impact of nature on children’s wellbeing. </p>
<p>Research shows that being in a non-threatening natural environment reduces the body’s stress reaction. The natural environment triggers the body’s relaxation response, where <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564151/">blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels are reduced</a>. </p>
<p>So, this summer get your kids out to a park, go on a long nature walk, or simply have them go play outside in the garden for a few hours. It really is good for them.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/69129/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Shelby Gull Laird has previously received funding from the Albury Conservation Company, and currently receives funding from the USDA NIFA McIntire–Stennis program. She is a board member of the Texas Association for Environmental Education.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Laura McFarland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Exposure to nature plays a positive role in brain development by providing children with opportunities to take risks, discover new things, and be creative.Shelby Gull Laird, Assistant Professor, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityLaura McFarland, Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Charles Sturt UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.