Girls growing up in American face many challenges in everyday life. NCAA All-American and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch knows this first-hand, but she believes girls who play sports face similar challenges on the field, that they will face throughout their lives.
Speaking to the gregarious Finch before a book signing appearance and her softball camp for young girls in Atlanta, Finch opened up about her early years playing softball. “I had two older brothers who played baseball, so my parents got me involved in softball,” stated Finch. I started in local rec leagues and realized I loved the game.”
According to Finch, her camp this weekend will be part softball and part lessons about life. “The camp will cover all aspects of the game, along with lectures about body image and self confidence,” added the two-time Olympian. “We’ll have question and answer sessions and sign autographs, but the feedback we get from just talking to the girls is awesome.”
Finch will be joined at the camp by other softball greats including Leah O’Brien-Amico, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist. “We try to teach the right way, and it’s our way of giving back,” offers up Finch.
Finch also wants to make it known that she will be at the camp the entire weekend. The softball standout says people wonder if she will be at the camp, or is it just her name attached to it. “I’m there every step of the way,” exclaimed Finch.
Finch is now retired from competitive softball, is married, and has two sons with professional baseball player Casey Daigle. She continues to be an ambassador for the sport of softball and female athletics. In addition to her softball camps, she’s an author, a sought after public speaker and product spokesperson.
Jennie will be signing her book, “Throw Like a Girl: How to Dream Big and Believe in Yourself” at S&S Sports in Alpharetta, GA at 6:30 on October 27, 2011. More information can be found at http://ssteamsports.com/
Jennie will also be conducting a softball camp in Alpharetta October 29-30 with other softball greats. Sign up for the camp at http://jenniefinch.com/camp_profile
Rick Limpert covers sports, technology and events in and around Atlanta. You can follow him on Twitter at @RickRoswell
Source: Personal interview with Finch on 10/24/11