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A Brief History of Women and the Olympic Games

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Female Olympians

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Abstract

Comparing women’s roles dating to the days of the ancient Olympic Games—when their fair gender was forbidden observation, never mind participation, even being refused as spectators at their revival, in 1896—it is a thrill to monitor how far female Olympians have come in terms of their sheer numbers on national teams, their sporting competitions, and the numerous obstacles they have overcome. Their history is one of endurance, resistance, and global organization. Beginning with golf as a case study in 1900 Paris, this abbreviated review traces key female Olympians in terms of newly introduced sports, ever-breaking records, and increasing global forces recognizing them.

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  1. Worcester State University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Linda K. Fuller

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Fuller, L.K. (2016). A Brief History of Women and the Olympic Games. In: Female Olympians. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58281-2_2

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