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1900 Olympic Games
The second modern Olympic games held in Paris France, women were allowed to participate in the events. Five different countries were represented and these females competed in over six different events. Charlotte Cooper, already three times Wimbledon champion, took both singles and mixed doubles championships to become the first female Olympic champion. -
The AAU opens track and field events to women
AAU was known for being a leader in international sports. It represented the United States during the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely to prepare young athletes for the Olympic Games. The AAU was criticized a lot for women’s sport. People did not agree that women should be able to participate in events involving endurance or speed like running. In 1922, the AAU opens track and field events to women. This makes people outraged. -
Gertrude Ederle swims across the English Channel
At the age of 19, Gertrude Ederle became the first women to swim across the English Channel. She accomplished a feat that only five men before her had succeeded in and broke the fastest men's record by around two hours with a time of 14 hours and 39 minutes. Because of her great success, she was honored in New York City with a ticker-tape parade at which over two million people showed up. -
Althea Gibson was first African American Tennis star to try to break color barrier
Althea Gibson was born in South Carolina in 1927. Her parents are Daniel and Anna Washington. She is known for her skill in tennis and breaking a color barrier in the 1950’s. Althea was the first African American to compete in national and international tennis. -
Women play five-player, full-court basketball
Women’s basketball started off by the first women’s basketball team. This was organized by Senda Berenson at Smith College. It involved the rules of three zones and six players on each team to play. It was not long before the rules began to change. In 1968, three zones were changed into two zones in women’s basketball. As time went on, more roughness and contact was allowed. In 1971, women were finally allowed to play full court basketball with five players out on the court. -
Title IX is officially enacted
Title IX is a United States law that states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance...” This law has led to a huge growth in female participation in athletics due to the goal of making male and female athletic programs more even. -
Tennis U.S Open Equal Prize Money
The U.S Open announces they will give out equal prize money to men and women. It is just a year after Title IX and women are starting to be seen as equals to men in the sports world. At the time the U.S Open was the only one out of the four majors to give out equal prize money, it would be another 23 years before the Australian Open did it in 2000. Then another 7 years later when both the French Open and Wimbledon offered equal prize money. -
Ann Meyers
Ann Meyers was the first woman to sign an NBA contract with the Indiana Pacers. She was allowd to try out and play on the practice squad, but never made the final cut for the team. But still the fact that a well established league like the NBA would offer her the chance was a huge step for women and how they were preceived in the sporting world.
This also shows the progression of the mentality when thinking of womens sports. From not playing to being able to play with the guys. -
NCAA Officially Starts Covering Women Sports
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was formed in 1906 was created to regulate men’s college sports. They had no intention of ever including female sports until 1972 when Title IX was passed. Even then they fought Title IX at every window. Until 1981 when they held events for Division II and III, they officially started covering women in 1985 with Division I Championships. -
Victoria Brucker
There are multiple levels of importance in this one point. For one its the final step in the title IX process where even little girls are allowed to play in our nations pastime. The fact that they are being started so little is bigger, because we are now respecting the skill of women athletes where find it important to enhance the skills of the younger generations. -
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
The fact that the biggest sporting magazine decided to make her the only woman to be on the cover during the year is a pretty big feat. I mean they have the swimsuit edition, but this was an issue where she was looked at for her athletic prowess rather than her body. The way that the issues gets out to the public also enhances the fact that shes on it, I mean millions of people get this and the fact that she is on it and that she is portrayed in an athletic way will really hit home with people. -
First Time Two Women Compete in Indy500
The first woman to ever attempt to compete in an Indy500 was Janet Guthrie in 1976, not until 23 years later with Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher in 2000 would more than one women compete in an Indy500. Sarah Fisher was 19 and St. James was 50. The historic moment was ruined however when the two collided on lap 74 as a third driver tried to pass going into a turn. Unfortunately neither was able to finish the race.
