Michelle Sikes

Michelle Sikes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University, with affiliations in the African Studies Program, History Department, and the Rock Ethics Institute. She specializes in the historical, economic, and political dimensions of sport, particularly focusing on African and US athletics, apartheid-era resistance, and transnational athlete activism.

Her research interests include:

• Sport history and its global intersections
• African studies with emphasis on sports and identity
• Civil rights movements through athletic contexts
• Anti-apartheid campaigns in international sports
• Athlete rights and ethical dilemmas
• Historical memory in sports policy

Recent publications examine Olympic ultimatums, rebel track and field tours in South Africa, and decolonization narratives in Kenyan athletics. She contributes to the International Journal of the History of Sport, focusing on racial politics, ethical sports engagement, and historical reconstructions of athlete-led resistance.

She is affiliated with Penn State's Center for the Study of Sports in Society and has authored books such as Kenya's Running Women: A History (2023) and Sport and Apartheid South Africa: Histories of Politics, Power, and Protest (2022, co-edited). Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to peace, justice, and reduced inequalities.