History of Olympic Games for Women

British Olympic Association

In the Ancient Olympic Games, women were forbidden to take part. Married women were forbidden to even enter the competition areas as spectators. If they were caught, the punishment was death. Therefore, they created their own Games dedicated to the goddess Hera. Hera was the sister-wife of Zeus. The Olympic Games were dedicated to Zeus.

When the Olympic Games were revived in 1896 even the founder himself, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, did not agree with women's participation in the Games. This issue was the topic of much debate between the initial members of the IOC. However, women did not take part in the Games until 1900 in Paris. It was here that Britain's Charlotte Cooper became the first female gold medallist in the tennis singles competition. Only one other sport saw women's participation in 1900, golf.

In London at the 1908 Games there were 36 women competitors in the figure skating and tennis events. After these Games and a recommendation from the British Olympic Association that women swimmers, divers and gymnasts be allowed to compete in future Games, the Swedish Organising Committee included two swimming events and one diving contest for women at the 1912 Stockholm Games.

Finally, in 1924 the IOC decided to allow a larger participation of women in the Games. However, there was little evidence of this even by the 1936 Games in Berlin where there were only four sports available to women.

It was not until after the 1948 Games in London that there was a clearly marked increase in the participation of women in sport around the world. Nevertheless, there were only 5 women's sports in London and 6 sports by the 1968 Games in Mexico.

After the 1976 Games, finally a large increase in the number of sports offered to women began to appear. At the 1996 Atlanta Games there were 26 sports and 97 events open to women, which is still far below the 163 events open to men.

Highlights (Source: The Olympic Education Kit, Australian Olympic Committee)

1896 At the first Olympic Games, a Greek woman called Melpomene became the first female to run an unofficial marathon in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

1900 Tennis player Charlotte Cooper of Great Britain became the first female Olympic champion in the tennis singles.

1908 Yachtswoman, Frances Clytie Rivett-Carnac and her husband win gold, making her the first woman in any event to win in a competition with men.

1912 Swimmer, Fanny Durack first woman to win gold in a world-record time.

1928 The collapse of several runners at the end of the 800m saw the race declared dangerous for women and banned.

1948 Triumphant Fanny Blakers-Koen of the Netherlands breaks new ground as the first mother successful at the Olympic Games. She won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m relay and 100m hurdles.

1952 The first women ever to compete in equestrian sport (against men).

1956 The first woman, Giuliana Chenal-Minuzzo (Italy), in Olympic history to take the athletes' oath at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games.

1968 Mexico's Enriqueta Basilio becomes the first woman to light the Olympic flame in the stadium. The 800m women's event is re-instated.

1972 70 year old British equestrian competitor, Lorna Johnstone became the oldest ever female Olympian.

1973 The IOC decided that women could be proposed as IOC members.

1980 The greatest mother-daughter Olympic success - when Soviet runner Irin Nazarova, daughter of 1952 discus medallist Elizabeth Bagrinaseva, won gold in the relay.

1981 Pirjo Haggman (Finland) and Flor Isava-Fonseca (Venezuela) became the first women IOC members.
1982 Dame Mary Glen-Haig (Great Britain) was elected member of the IOC.

1984 Princess Nora of Liechtenstein was elected member of the IOC. Joan Benoit (USA) wins the first women's Olympic marathon.

1988 HRH the Princess Royal (Great Britain) was elected member of the IOC. Tennis returns to the Games, with the inequitable agreement that fewer women than men be allowed to compete.

1990 Carol Anne Letheren (Canada) was elected member of the IOC. Flor Isva-Fonseca was the first woman on the IOC Executive Board.

1993 Anita DeFranz (USA) was elected to the IOC Executive Board.

1994 The women's programme for the Olympic Winter Games included 4 sports (biathlon, luge, skating and skiing) and 25 events.

1996 23 women's sports, including soccer, beach volleyball and mountain biking.

1998 6 women's sports including curling and ice hockey.