FILE PHOTO: Simone Conley is signed as a fitness trainer for TS Galaxy in January 2021. PICTURE: Simone Conley via Instagram
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0 JOHANNESBURG: Conley still has to work twice as hard as her male peers.
Simone Conley is living proof that women can succeed in male-dominated industries. Her passion and dedication towards sports, fitness and healthy living has earned her the title ‘Queen of Fitness’.
Conley is a biokineticist who specialises in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, football physical training, and is a certified Nike trainer.
A biokineticist is an exercise specialist who improves people’s physical condition, through physical assessment and by prescribing healthy exercise habits.
For Conley, breaking the glass ceiling is not enough, she wants to dominate and with her drive and passion, she is destined for the top.
While strides have been made to get women involved in the sector, more still needs to be done to level the playing field, Conley opines.
“It seems to be getting better, but I do not really feel like it’s 100% there yet. It is far from it and it will never be equal. There are men doing the same thing I do or have far less qualification with bigger and better teams employing them,” she laments.
A holder of a BCom Sports Management Degree and a Master’s degree in Biokinetics, Conley still has to work twice as hard as her male peers.
“The only way people are going to know you is if you make your mark and have confidence in what you do,” she said.
She has already had stints as a biokineticist and fitness trainer in the premiership with teams such Highlands Park and most recently TS Galaxy, Bafana Bafana and SA Under-23 Men’s teams
When working for a DStv Premiership side, as she does, football becomes life. It is very hard to think of it in any other way and that is why you have to be ready to love the game and immerse yourself, she concluded.
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