Participation of women in the Olympics

Her historic victory was not known until University of Florida professor Paula Welch began to do research into the history of the Olympics and discovered that Margaret Abbott had placed first.

[10][11] Jane Moulin and Elvira Guerra competed in the hacks and hunter combined (chevaux de selle) equestrian event at the 1900 Games.

The progression in women's participation up to Stockholm 1912 shows a gradual expansion in both the number of sports and athletes involved, though it was still far from the comprehensive inclusion we see in modern Olympic Games.

These early years laid foundational steps for women's sports in the Olympics, reflecting societal shifts towards greater gender equity in athletic competition.

At the 1924 Summer Olympics held the same year in Paris, women's fencing made its debut with Dane, Ellen Osiier winning the inaugural gold.

[26] The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin continued this progress by reintroducing gymnastics to the women's program, showcasing a commitment to inclusivity and diversity in athletic disciplines.

These milestones underscore the Games' evolving nature, continually striving to embrace and empower athletes of all backgrounds and genders on the global stage.

Erika Lechner of Italy won the gold after East German racers Ortrun Enderlein, Anna-Maria Müller and Angela Knösel allegedly heated the runners on their sleds and were disqualified.

[40] The Games featured significant achievements by female athletes, such as gymnast Vera Caslavska, who won four gold medals, and swimmer Debbie Meyer, who also had a notable performance.

Her remarkable performance, which included seven perfect scores and three gold medals, elevated the global profile of women's gymnastics.

[80] From 2004 to 2012, the Olympic Games witnessed pivotal advancements for women in sports, symbolizing a transformative period towards greater gender equity and inclusivity.

[85] In the subsequent 2008 Summer Olympics, the inclusion of BMX cycling, women's 3000 m steeplechase, and the 10 kilometre marathon swim further diversified the Games, providing new platforms for female athletes to excel.

[89] Controversy was created when women's ski jumping was excluded from the programme by the IOC due to the low number of athletes and participating nations in the sport.

[90] A group of fifteen competitive female ski jumpers later filed a suit against the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on the grounds that it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms since men were competing in the same event.

[93] This, combined with the decision by the IOC to drop baseball from the programme for 2012, meant that women competed in every sport at a Summer Games for the first time.

By 2012, women constituted approximately 44% of the total athlete population at the Olympics, highlighting substantial progress in overcoming gender barriers and fostering a more inclusive sporting environment.

[102] Inbee Park of South Korea seized the opportunity, clinching the gold medal and rekindling interest in golf as an Olympic discipline.

[103] The Games also set a remarkable record for Team USA's female contingent, with 291 women competing across various sports and collectively bringing home an unprecedented 65 medals.

These developments underscored the ongoing efforts to expand and diversify the Olympic program, providing new opportunities for athletes and captivating audiences worldwide with thrilling displays of athleticism and skill.

Notably, Transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard's participation in the women's super heavyweight weightlifting event highlighted the Olympics' evolving stance on gender representation.

[111] These changes underscored the Games' commitment to equality, reflecting broader societal shifts towards embracing diverse athletic achievements and promoting inclusive competition at the highest level.

Women accounted for a substantial portion of the total athletes, competing in events ranging from alpine skiing to bobsleigh, demonstrating their prowess across a wide array of disciplines.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Team USA's roster included a greater number of women than men for the fourth consecutive Games.

Ledecky's achievements included setting new records, such as in the 4 × 100 m medley relay with teammates Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske.

Biles, along with Suni Lee, contributed to USA Gymnastics' historic achievement of having two women's all-around gold medalists in a single Olympics.

"[140] it was found within this study by the testing of macro-social gender equality, that within countries that have a higher affiliation with the Muslim religion, there was less of a push for women to pursue sports.

[141] A 2016 study published by Cambridge University Press found that women were more likely to be described using physical features, age, marital status and aesthetics than men were, as opposed to sport-related adjectives and descriptions.

[151] This commission declares its role as "advis[ing] the IOC Executive Board on the policy to deploy in the area of promoting women in sport".

[153] Inequality still exists in this area, but her study was deemed to be eye opening to how substantial the problem was and suggested ways to increase reporting on women's sporting events.

The event was seen as a protest against the IOC's refusal to include females in athletics and a message to their President Pierre de Coubertin who was opposed to women at the Olympics.