We know that gender inequality is still a problem within sport, yet that doesn’t stop us from being constantly bowled over on discovering new examples of inequality on a professional athletic level. The disparities that the US team shone a light on this week frankly knocked us straight off our feet.

“The fight for gender equality in sport is far from over, but this victory shows that it is getting marginally easier”

While both the men’s and women’s teams were paid $6,000 in the old agreement, male athletes were supplemented by a multi-million dollar National Hockey League contract that the female team could not access.

Along with these financial disparities, the men’s team also flew in business while the women flew in coach, got free family and friends seats for games while women had to pay and received $50 per diem, compared to $15 for women.

The fact that the US team stood against this inequality in sport is important, the fact that they won so quickly and in such a big way is crucial.

While female sport is in a better place than it has ever been before, that doesn’t mean that we should accept the things that still remain unequal – and there are more than a few.

In the last year, only five per cent of national sports coverage was female, with only one per cent of overall sponsorship money going to female athletes. The fight for gender equality in sport is far from over, but this victory shows that it is getting marginally easier.

Governing bodies and sporting associations know that they should pay both sexes equally, unfortunately they won’t offer to until we push. Let’s hope that what the US hockey team achieved last night will inspire athletes all over the world to also stand up and say that the time for change has arrived.