In the summer of 1996, our nation cheered the performance and achievements of the U.S. women Olympians and Paralympians. The images of strong, active women were inspiring, a long way from the days when females were relegated to "lady-like" sports and young girls were left on the sidelines as their brothers played.Following on the heels of the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, this landmark review makes clear that participation in physical activity and sport can help girls weather the storms of adolescence and lay the foundation for a healthier adult life. The report looks at "the complete girl" through an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the impact of physical activity and sport participation.The conclusions are striking: regular physical activity can reduce girls' risk of many of the chronic diseases of adulthood; female athletes do better academically and have lower school drop-out rates than their nonathletic counterparts; and, regular physical activity can enhance girls' mental health, reducing symptoms of stress and depression and improving self-esteem.