It’s not just teachers, parents, and victims of bullying who are putting up a fight to end this harmful form of abuse. Today, celebrities, influencers, and top athletes alike are doing their share to nip it in the bud. Take the case of Marcus Rashford—a soccer player from Manchester United and the English national team. He is an avid defender of children’s rights, having launched a campaign against child food poverty that embraced bullying experiences that are related to socioeconomic status. He also uses his social media channels to promote kindness and extend compassion to those who have been victims. If you’d love to know more about Marcus Rashford and other elite athletes who are using their fame for a good cause, read on!

Born of Experience

Rashford’s voice comes from the heart. In his book You Are a Champion, he talks about the hardships he faced as a child. He was bullied owing in no small part to his family’s profound economic struggles. Rashford explains that he and his four siblings often had to rely on food banks and free school meals, leading them to be ostracized by their peers. Rashford encourages kids to find their passion as a means of boosting their resilience. Rashford himself credits soccer with having built his self-confidence—something that is especially important after experiencing bullying behavior.

Stopping Bullying in Sports

If you’re into reading about the experiences of your favorite baseball stars, make it a point to check out the biography of Marcus Stroman, the Chicago Cubs pitcher who is known for his outspoken stance against bullying, Like Marcus Rashford, Stroman faced bullying as a child. However, much of his work is centered on bullying in sports itself. Statistics show that in team sports, almost one-third of participants identified as victims, and higher victimization rates are observed in younger age categories such as under 13s, 11s, and 9s. Stroman believes that the key to stopping bullying lies in awareness and action. He has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at teaching young athletes how to stand up against bullying—be it from their teammates, coaches, or opponents.

 Fighting for Acceptance

If elite athletes prove one thing it is that bullying isn’t exclusively an experience encountered by children and youths, This year, Olympic boxer Imane Khelif faced severe harassment during the Paris Olympics, owing to unfounded claims about her gender. Khelif took home the Gold Medal for her weight class but her victory was just the first step in stopping her haters. Since then, she has called for an end to bullying, emphasizing the long-term effects it can have on mental health. She filed a criminal complaint to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office against those who engaged in “acts of aggravated cyber harassment,” and also filed a lawsuit against X (Twitter). Doing so allows the prosecution the chance to investigate all X users, including those who have may written abusive messages under the guise of pseudonyms. Her action sends a powerful message: bullying is not something that should go unnoticed, and perpetrators should not be allowed to continue. Her stance seeks to show that it is not okay for keyboard warriors to target someone from the safety of anonymity.

 Knocking Down Prejudice

World-class tennis players Venus and Serena Williams have faced criticism and bullying throughout their careers owing to racial bias. One of the most difficult challenges they faced was when the head of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarischev, made insulting comments about them that led Russia’s own Maria Sharapova to condemn him. Tarpischev appeared on a Russian talk show, referring to the sisters as the “Williams Brothers” and claiming they were “scary to look at.” Fortunately, the World Tennis Association backed the sisters, banning Tarpischev for one year and fining him. Serena thanked the WTA for supporting them in the fight against racist and sexist comments. The sisters continually speak out against bullying behaviors, providing an excellent example for young girls starting out in sports.

Top athletes from numerous sports are fighting a good fight against bullying. Many have experienced bullying themselves, using their sport to boost their self-esteem and move beyond the trauma. However, bullying is also a problem within the sports world itself, for both child and adult athletes. The athletes mentioned above demonstrate the importance of speaking up, defending one’s legal rights, and using social media to send important messages about the impact of bullying.