A young girl is breaking barriers in the sports world. Honor Smoke, a 10-year-old wrestler from the Tonawanda Reservation in upstate New York, has made history as the youngest person ever to appear on the cover of a special edition of Sports Illustrated.
Sports reIllustrated, a special edition
Sharing the stories of 10 female athletes who are breaking barriers and pushing boundaries in sports, Dove and Sports Illustrated partnered for this groundbreaking issue, Sports reIllustrated. Honor’s journey in wrestling, has made her a role model for young athletes across the country.
A wrestling prodigy
Honor started wrestling at just seven years old, becoming the first girl to join the Akron Youth Wrestling Club. Competing mostly against boys, she quickly proved her talent by winning the girls’ division in her age and weight group at the New York Wrestling Association for Youth State Championship in Syracuse.
She has since placed in national competitions, showcasing her dedication and skill on a larger stage. Her love for wrestling has inspired her two younger sisters to take up the sport as well. Honor now helps coach younger kids in her local wrestling program.
The youngest Sports Illustrated cover star, from upstate New York
Honor’s inclusion in Sports reIllustrated is more than just a personal achievement. It’s part of a larger movement to encourage girls to stay in sports.
Launched in conjunction with Dove’s Big Game spot, the special edition will draw attention to the Dove Body Confident Sport program. This is a scientifically proven coaching tool to build body confidence in 11- to 17-year-old girls and keep them engaged in sports.
Because of body image pressure, a staggering 48 percent of girls drop out of sports. By featuring Honor and other young female athletes, Sports Illustrated and Dove hope to inspire more girls to pursue their athletic dreams, no matter the challenges.
With dreams of one day competing in the Olympics, Honor shows no signs of slowing down. Her hard work and determination have already earned her national recognition. And her story continues to inspire young athletes across New York and beyond.