Women were first allowed to compete in the Olympic Games in 1900, during the Paris edition. Initially, they participated in just a few events like tennis, golf, and croquet. Only 22 women competed compared to 975 men. Over time, women’s involvement grew, and the range of sports expanded.
Today, gender equality is a core Olympic value, with near-equal male and female athlete participation. Recent Games like Tokyo 2020 featured a record number of women competitors, reflecting decades of progress toward inclusive and diverse representation in international sports.