Cricket: Vox Pop - After that historic MCC decision, are women still discriminated against in British sport?

DEBBIE BAMPTON

Ex-England football captain

In the time I have been playing there has been tremendous progress. When I was at school I wasn't allowed to play with boys. So at least that's changed, but the women's game still needs more promotion. Do you know when the next England women's international is? No, well, it's next Saturday. We're not on the television or in the papers whereas in other countries that's normal. It's a pity because when we've played games in front of big crowds people have never stopped coming up to me to say they were surprised at how skilful it all is.

GILL BURNS

England rugby captain

It's different now from when I started 11 years ago. It's the fastest growing team sport for women but it only started in 1984. I was sceptical at first but one session and I realised it was a sport women could play. It's different from the men, there is more handling and less kicking because that's our strength. We are getting a lot of support from the RFU; what we don't have is coverage and money. Very few people now have doubts about women playing. My one remaining ambition is to play an international at Twickenham, and that might not be far away.

ALEX GREAVES

Jockey

After 20 years of women jockeys there's still a long way to go to acceptance. I wouldn't get any decent rides if I wasn't attached to a good stable, but there are reasons to hope it will get better. At the Jockey Club the crusty old brigade are disappearing. But it's still much better in other countries. I like to think I've broken down a few barriers, winning the Lincoln and a Group One race last year, but if you've lost you can still hear comments like, 'That's what you get for putting a silly tart on the horse'. Punters speaking from their pocket, I suppose.

KATE HOWEY

Ex-world judo champion

As many girls as boys start judo, probably because of the self- defence it can teach them. Probably as many drop out but that still leaves a healthy number. It's been a long time since there's been any difference between men and women in Britain, except now the women's team has more depth. Women have to take a bit more battering than men but the sport's the same. That aspect is slightly different in countries like Japan and Korea where women play but are not given quite the same treatment, but even that's changing.

DENISE LEWIS

Heptathlete

With athletes, it's all about performance and I've never experienced any discrimination. Men and women are on a level footing, we're measured by what we do out on the track. I've always had the same encouragement, I've always had male coaches. If anything, I intimidate men. When I'm working in the gym I'm very often a bit stronger than quite a lot of the blokes. But athletes' goals are the same and we support each other. There's no frowning about women being out there. If those days were ever there, they're long gone.

SUSAN ROLPH

Swimmer

Before we went to Malaysia for the Games the female competitors warned about not offending local custom by wearing skirts that were too short or too much make-up. As it happened, we were all, male and female, given an overwhelming welcome. Girls and boys start swimming young and both need to put in the same work. The only difference is that women tend to give up much earlier. But that's changing, too, and women don't have any problems because of their sex in English swimming.

INTERVIEWS: STEPHEN BRENKLEY