In 1976 in Montreal, Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci scored a ten on the uneven bars – the first gymnast in Olympic history to be awarded a perfect score.
From Comaneci’s perfect ten to Simone Biles winning four gold medals in 2016, female Olympians have exhibited graceful athleticism (every four years) for over 100 years.
In this article, we document the history of women at the Olympics. We also highlight the defining moments that advanced women’s sport while celebrating the major medal winners who stole the show along the way.
Timeline of women at the Olympic Games
- 776 BC. The first recorded Olympic Games in Olympia, the Greek city of Elis. However, these Olympic Games were limited to only men – women couldn’t even attend.
- The first Summer Olympics (Games of the I Olympiad) in modern history in Athens. Only 13 nations compete and all participants are men.
- Women compete at the Olympic Games for the first time. 22 female athletes out of 997 participants compete in five sports. They include tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf.
- Swiss sailor, Helene De Pourtales becomes the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
- Britain, Sybil ‘Queenie’ Newall becomes the oldest (individual female) Olympic Gold medallist in modern history – and remains so today. At 53 years old, she won gold in Archery.
- Women compete in swimming events for the first time. However, none of which are American, as they prohibit women from competing in events without long skirts.
- 65 women compete at the Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium.
- The first ‘Women’s Olympic Games’ in Monte Carlo. French feminist, Alice Milliat organises the event in protest to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) refusal to allow women to compete in athletics events. These games and subsequent games in 1926 prove popular, which forces the IOC to allow women to compete in track and field at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
- The first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Women only compete in the figure skating.
- American diver, Marjorie Gestring becomes the youngest (individual female) Olympic Gold medallist in modern history – and remains so today. At 13 years old, she won gold in the three-metre springboard.
- At the Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California, over 20 per cent of the participants are women.
- The Stoke Mandeville Games (later named the Paralympics) first take place in Rome. The first winter Paralympics are held 16 years later in Sweden.
- The most decorated female Olympian in history, gymnast Larisa Semyonovna Latynina wins her last gold medal. Latynina representing the Soviet Union, won nine gold, five silver and four bronze over three Olympics (Melbourne, Rome and Tokyo).
- Britain, Lorna Johnstone competes in the equestrian and becomes the oldest female Olympian at age 70.
- 14-year-old Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci receives the first ever perfect score (10/10) on the uneven bars at an Olympic Games.
- 64 countries boycott the Moscow Summer Olympics in protest to Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
- American long-distance runner, Joan Benoit, becomes the first women’s Olympic marathon gold medallist held in Los Angeles, United States.
- East German, Kristin Otto, wins the most Gold medals for a woman at a single Olympic Games. Otto won six gold medals (no silver or bronze) in swimming events.
- The 1st IOC (International Olympic Committee) World Conference on Women and Sport took place in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC plays an important role in advancing women in sport.
- Softball, a women’s only sport is introduced at the Atlanta Olympic Games. It was halted after the 2008 Olympics and added again for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.
- Women compete in rugby for the first time and golf is re-introduced.
- With the inclusion of women’s boxing, men and women now compete in all Olympic sports.
- Canoeist, Josefa Idem (aged 48) becomes the first women to compete in eight Olympic Games. She first represented West Germany in 1988, then Italy from 1992-2012.
- At the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a new record for women participation reaches 45 per cent (55 per cent men).
Research completed by Compare the Market was compiled into this infographic of each country’s greatest female Olympian by the rank of gold medals.
The most inspiring female Olympic moments of all time
- In 1902, Madge Syers won a silver medal in World Figure Skating Championships – against men. This accomplishment led to a female division in the sport at the 1908 London Winter Olympics. Syers won the gold medal in a fitting moment for the skating trailblazer.
- Born in the segregated south of the United States, Alice Coachman grew up in tough conditions as one of ten children. Coachman went from training barefoot to becoming the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. She accomplished this fete in the high jump at the 1948 London Olympics.
- At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, there was something odd about the East German women’s swim team. Years later, documents would confirm a state-sponsored doping program. While they mostly dominated, the East German team was defeated by an inspired American team in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
- At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Greek hurdler, Voula Patoulidou became the first Greek woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Sensationally, Patoulidou won the 100m hurdles when heavy favourite Gail Devers tripped at the final hurdle. Patoulidou dedicated the win to her country, with a saying that’s become folklore, “For Greece, Dammit!”
- Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman won silver in the 400m at the 1996 Atlanta games. In 2000 at her home games in Sydney she went one step further and won gold. Although unofficial flags are banned from the Olympics, Freeman completed a lap of honour with the Australian and Aboriginal flag draped around her neck in a unifying moment.
- At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, American gymnast, Simone Biles set the gymnastics floor alight, smashing records and winning four gold medals. In a post-competition interview Biles said, “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.” Bravo.
- British Hockey superstars Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh won the gold medal at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. They became the first married lesbian couple to win an Olympic gold medal.