JENNIFER DODDS was still the “weird girl” at school when she stayed up late to watch Rhona Martin slide home curling’s so-called ‘Stone of Destiny’ and clinch Great Britain’s first Winter Olympic gold medal since Torvill and Dean in Salt Lake City in 2002.

It was a moment that helped Dodds realise her commitment to sporting success need not be just a pipe dream, and she would be proven correct 20 years later when she formed part of Eve Muirhead’s team who emulated Martin’s famous curling triumph in Beijing.

Dodds credits the shift away from the stigma of being a young girl involved in sports to moments like Martin’s success, and believes International Women’s Day still plays a crucial role in reinforcing the opportunities and pathways that are available.