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El deporte femenino de élite ha experimentado un auge en los últimos años, auspiciado en gran medida por la presencia de mujeres deportistas en competiciones nacionales e internacionales y por los logros obtenidos. Sin embargo, tradicionalmente su presencia en medios de comunicación es menor que la de sus homólogos masculinos. En este contexto, las mujeres deportistas disponen de perfiles en redes sociales que suponen un espacio comunicativo propio en el que no dependen de la cobertura de los medios de comunicación, contribuyendo así a la expansión y fortalecimiento del deporte femenino. Esta investigación aborda el estudio de la presencia de las mujeres deportistas en redes sociales, en qué plataformas se encuentran presentes, cuáles son las más utilizadas y si su alcance tiene que ver con la disciplina deportiva que practican. Para ello, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio exploratorio para el que se han seleccionado a las 50 mujeres deportistas españolas más influyentes según la lista Forbes Women. Aplicando una metodología cuantitativa se han definido variables ad hoc para abordar la cuestión, que pueden ser replicadas en estudios posteriores de similares características. Los resultados apuntan a un uso mayoritario de Instagram, que es también la red que más actualizan, así como a un uso escaso de plataformas web propias, sin encontrarse un patrón en cuanto a disciplina deportiva en las deportistas con un mayor número de seguidores. El estudio aporta una mirada centrada en los perfiles propios de las deportistas, frente al predominio de investigaciones sobre su representación mediática.

Women’s elite sport has experienced a boom in recent years, mainly due to the presence of female athletes in national and international competitions and their achievements. However, their presence in the media is traditionally lower than that of their male counterparts. In this context, female athletes have profiles in social networks that represent their own communicative space. They do not depend on media coverage, thus contributing to the expansion and strengthening of women’s sport. This research addresses the study of the presence of women athletes in social networks, in which platforms they are present, which are the most used, and if their reach has to do with the sport discipline they practice. For this purpose, an exploratory study was conducted by selecting the 50 most influential Spanish sportswomen according to the Forbes Women list. Applying a quantitative methodology, ad hoc variables have been defined to address the question, which can be replicated in subsequent studies of similar characteristics. The results point to a majority use of Instagram, which is also the network they update the most, as well as a scarce use of their web platforms, without finding a pattern in sports discipline among the sportswomen with the highest number of followers. The study contributes a perspective focused on sportswomen’s own profiles, as opposed to the prevailing research on their media representation.

Women’s elite sport has experienced a boom in recent years, mainly due to the presence of female athletes in national and international competitions and their achievements. However, their presence in the media is traditionally lower than that of their male counterparts. In this context, female athletes have profiles in social networks that represent their own communicative space. They do not depend on media coverage, thus contributing to the expansion and strengthening of women’s sport. This research addresses the study of the presence of women athletes in social networks, in which platforms they are present, which are the most used, and if their reach has to do with the sport discipline they practice. For this purpose, an exploratory study was conducted by selecting the 50 most influential Spanish sportswomen according to the Forbes Women list. Applying a quantitative methodology, ad hoc variables have been defined to address the question, which can be replicated in subsequent studies of similar characteristics. The results point to a majority use of Instagram, which is also the network they update the most, as well as a scarce use of their web platforms, without finding a pattern in sports discipline among the sportswomen with the highest number of followers. The study contributes a perspective focused on sportswomen’s own profiles, as opposed to the prevailing research on their media representation.

Women’s elite sport has experienced a boom in recent years, mainly due to the presence of female athletes in national and international competitions and their achievements. However, their presence in the media is traditionally lower than that of their male counterparts. In this context, female athletes have profiles in social networks that represent their own communicative space. They do not depend on media coverage, thus contributing to the expansion and strengthening of women’s sport. This research addresses the study of the presence of women athletes in social networks, in which platforms they are present, which are the most used, and if their reach has to do with the sport discipline they practice. For this purpose, an exploratory study was conducted by selecting the 50 most influential Spanish sportswomen according to the Forbes Women list. Applying a quantitative methodology, ad hoc variables have been defined to address the question, which can be replicated in subsequent studies of similar characteristics. The results point to a majority use of Instagram, which is also the network they update the most, as well as a scarce use of their web platforms, without finding a pattern in sports discipline among the sportswomen with the highest number of followers. The study contributes a perspective focused on sportswomen’s own profiles, as opposed to the prevailing research on their media representation.