Fabiola da Silva: The Unsung Trailblazer
Before Sarah Thomas officiated an NFL game.
Before Alyssa Nakken joined a Major League dugout.
Before Ronda Rousey stepped into the Octagon.
Before Danica Patrick took the wheel.
Before Mo’ne Davis made Little League history.
Before some of the most iconic women in sports proved they could compete on the same level as men—Fabiola “Fabby” da Silva had already achieved what many of them likely never will.
Tell me this:
What other physically demanding sport allows men and women to compete head-to-head?
And what other woman was so dominant that the league had to rewrite the rules—not to hold her back, but to push her further?
Fabby didn’t just break into a male-dominated sport—she kicked the door down and made them build a new one with her name on it.
The Fabiola Rule
By 2000, women’s skate competitions were shrinking—and Fabiola da Silva was dominating the few that remained. Her unmatched skill left the ASA (Aggressive Skaters Association) with little choice but to open the gates. The result? The creation of “The Fabiola Rule,” allowing women to compete alongside men in the once all-male vert division.
To this day, Fabiola is the most decorated female athlete in X Games history, earning eight medals—seven gold, one silver. Between 1997 and 2004, she lost only once, taking second place in 1999. And in 2005, she shattered yet another barrier, becoming the first woman to land a double backflip on a vert ramp.
Unsung
Fire up Google and search for “women who broke barriers in sports” or “inspirational female athletes.” You’ll find dozens—maybe hundreds—of lists from across the internet. And yet, Fabiola da Silva is almost never on them. Strangely, many of the names that do appear aren’t even athletes—they’re coaches, commentators, or front-office figures.
But let’s go back to my original questions:
What other physically demanding sport allows men and women to compete head-to-head?
And what other woman was so dominant that the league had to rewrite the rules—not to hold her back, but to push her further?
I’m still waiting for an answer—because I don’t think there is one.
Fabiola da Silva didn’t just change the game. She demolished the gender barrier in a sport built on fearlessness and physicality. No other female athlete has forced a more radical shift in the structure of their sport. And yet, her story is all but invisible.
Why? A mix of recency bias and the fact that vert skating isn’t exactly mainstream among women. As a result, one of the most groundbreaking athletes in history remains largely unknown—even within feminist circles.
Fabiola da Silva is the trailblazer no one talks about.
