Gidget is a fictional character who helped promote surfing among girls.

• A. Wilma Rudolph
• B. Bobby Riggs
• C. Tommie Smith
• D. Gidget

Answer: (D)

Media representations can shape who feels welcome in a sport, especially for girls who face stereotypes about what activities are "for" them. Gidget, the fictional teenage surfer from the 1950s, became a cultural icon through a popular novel and film adaptations, presenting surfing as accessible and exciting for girls. Her story gave young women a relatable role model and helped spark a surge of female participation in surfing, contributing to shifting attitudes about girls in sports. That’s why this option fits best—the character embodies how fiction and media can promote girls’ involvement in a sport and challenge gender norms of the era. The other names are real athletes who influenced sports and gender equality in different ways, but they aren’t tied to promoting surfing among girls in the way Gidget did.