by Celia Love

Created on: May 01, 2008

WOMEN IN SPORTS
Women's role in the history of sports began long before the other focuses of this story, and is still growing rapidly today.

For centuries, only certain sports were open to women and most of them had restrictions. The Olympics was strictly off limits. Monumental strides were made over eleven hundred years to change that.

In 776 B.C., No girls were allowed at the first Olympics held in Ancient Greece, but the Games of Hera', featuring foot races for women, were held every four years

In 396 B.C., Kyniska, a Spartan Princess, won an Olympic Chariot Race, but was banned from collecting her prize in person.

In 1406, Dame Juliana Berners, of Great Britain, wrote the first known essay on Sports Fishing, "Treatise of Fishing With An Angle", described how to make a rod and flies, when to fish, and the many types of fishing.

In 1552 - 1587, Mary Queen of Scots, was said to be the first woman golfer. She was also the one who coined the term "Caddy". During her reign, the famous St. Andrews Golf Course was built.

The 1700's brought us Sarah Kemble-Knight on her solo journey on horseback from Boston to New York. The diary of her travels, "The Journey of Madame Knight," was published in 1825, over one hundred years after her death. Other milestones in the 1700's included: The first woman fighter entering the boxing rig; three days of horse racing in Hempstead Plains, Long Island, including an event for women riders; ad the first solo balloon flight by a woman.

The 1800's gave us: Women Jockeys, Balloonists, Tight Rope Walkers and Lacrosse players. Women began writing books and Fitness Manuals. A new style of dress emerged, which included pants for women (which was previously unheard of). Croquet became the first game played by men and women.

Vassar College opened a school of physical training with training in Swimming, Boating, Riding, Gardening, Skating and Physical Education. Vassar went on to present the first two all women Amateur Baseball Teams.

Pikes Peak in Colorado, Mt. Hood in Oregon, Mt. Rainer in Washington, and, the 14,256 Foot Long Peak in Colorado were all climbed by women. Cycle Races, Rowing Matches, Tennis, Cricket, Roller Skating, Boxing, Archery, Tennis, Bicycle Riding and Rifle Shooting, Ice Hockey, Gymnastics, Volley Ball, Bowling, Baseball and Ping Pong teams became open to women.

The 1900's brought women competing in the Olympics, and with that, the first female Tennis Champion of international renown. Women began making aviator debuts, founding

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>