On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 5th Annual Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and honored five of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of 650 guests.  The event returned to UCF's Addition Financial Arena with featured speaker Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic Gold Medalist and pioneer of women’s marathoning. GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was joined on stage during the ceremonies by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. 

The 2023 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Latria Graham (GLB Media Group), Betsy Hughes (Track Shack), and Jennifer Lastik (Greater Orlando Sports Commission). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2023 Rising Star Award recipient was Uneeke Armani (Florida Citrus Sports). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights. The recipient of the WISE Greater Orlando Woman of Inspiration Award was Sari Kitelyn (Full Sail University). The WISE Women of Inspiration Award, determined and awarded by local WISE chapters, honors women who exemplify the spirit of the WISE mission and are making a positive impact on the business of sports while serving as positive role models and mentors for other women. 

Winner of the first Olympic Women’s Marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Joan Benoit Samuelson is a pioneer of women’s marathoning. Born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Benoit Samuelson took to long-distance running to help recover from a broken leg suffered while slalom skiing. In 1979, she entered the Boston Marathon as a relative unknown and won the race. In 1981, she captured the U.S. 10,000-meter championship, and in 1983 she repeated her Boston Marathon success with a world record time of 2:22:43. Benoit Samuelson won the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials at age 26, just 17 days following arthroscopic knee surgery. Three months later, she won the first Olympic Women's Marathon in 2:24:52. She was world ranked five times in the marathon, twice at no. 1, and in 1985 was awarded the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award as the nation’s finest amateur athlete. She continues to race at a highly competitive level today.

Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Florida Blue, VyStar Credit Union, City of Orlando, LPGA, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Valkyries, Universal Destinations & Experiences, First Horizon Foundation, Holland & Knight, Orlando Magic, and WISE Greater Orlando. The luncheon was also supported by more than 49 additional organizations who purchased Table Sponsorships.