The History of Women’s Olympics

Women athletes have shown us time and time again the extent of their capabilities. The fight for equality in sports has been a long battle, but it has made some great strides within the Olympics.

Dating back to the ancient Olympic Games, men were still perceived as being the only athletic sex. The National Women’s History Museum explains, “During the nineteenth century, a common belief was that men were naturally aggressive and competitive and women were emotional and passive, making men better suited for strenuous exercise and sports.” It was also believed that having female participants would be boring to watch. However, Topend Sports states that women were allowed to enter their horses to compete in the equestrian event.

In 1900, the Paris Olympics opened its doors to female athletes in limited numbers. According to the International Olympic Committee, only 22 women out of 997 total athletes competed that year. In addition, they were only able to compete in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf.

Margaret Abbot is credited as being the first American female Olympian winner. Abbot had previously won competitions in the U.S. for golf, so she decided to take a shot at the 1900 Olympics. At the time the events were not as coordinated and despite being handed a trophy for her win, Abbot never learned that she was an Olympic champion.

Over the years, women’s participation continued to grow. Gymnastics, softball and other inclusive sports were also added over time. While the sports did filter in and out, the addition of women’s boxing during the 2012 London Olympics marked the first time men and women were able to participate in all sports, according to Topend Sports.

The 2012 Olympics also marks the first year women from Saudi Arabia were allowed to compete. NBC Olympics announced that this year four Saudi women competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. And with American women earning 61 out of 121 total medals for the USA Team, it appears that women have truly proved their capabilities as athletic superstars.