Women in the Games - A Winding Course of Events Since 1896

Athens 1896: Women were prohibited from participating in the Olympic Games. Paris 2024 marks a significant milestone, as gender parity among athletes is finally achieved, with an equal number of men and women competing. A span of 128 years separates these two events, during which the journey toward equality has been fraught with challenges. Each decade has seen pivotal female figures whose dedicated efforts have ultimately borne fruit. This book explores major historical upheavals and societal advancements while examining the evolution of women’s roles within the Olympic realm since its revival by Pierre de Coubertin.

Featuring insights from Anita DeFrantz, Maryse Éwanjé-Épée, Sarah Ourahmoune, Félicia Ballanger, Marie-George Buffet, and Alexandra Ledermann, among others, this work draws on around forty testimonies and the expertise of specialists to chronicle the tumultuous history of women in the Olympic Games. It serves as a reminder of the arduous journey women have undertaken over the course of a century.