Posted on August 19th, 2008 by Katrina  •  Filed under: News

With all the well justified hype about the Olympics, I decided to do a little historical digging and learn a bit more about it, and the role women€ have played in it.

 The 1900’s in Paris was the very first time that women participated in the Olympics and the first winner was Charlotte Cooper in singles tennis who took home a gold medal for Great Britian…and seeing as I’m British I get to be proud and do a little dance about that. Although you’d think she would have smiled having been the first ever woman to win a medal in the Olympics.

 The woman to win the most medals in the Olympics is Merlene Ottey from Jamaica who has won 8 medals: 3 silver and 5 bronze in five different olympic games.

 In the ancient Olympics married women were barred from the games, whereas prostitutes and virgins were allowed to watch. I think this may have had something to do with stopping married women getting to rough with their men when they got home.

 There was no women in the International Olympic Committee from 1896 to 1981, and yet it was very clear that it needed a woman’s touch. :)

 Well enough of my mindless drivel for one night, but I would like to say one more thing. Women in the Olympics is a fantastic thing, and I think the reason it took so long for this to happen is because men were worried there might actually be some fierce competition from women who could show them a thing or two…or three or four! Good luck to all the women participants in the Olympics, do your countries and your gender proud.