Despite these small steps forward, women’s involvement in the Olympic Games during the early 20th century remained tightly controlled and shaped by patriarchal expectations. Events designated for women were carefully selected to emphasize traits considered “feminine,” such as elegance, grace, and composure, while avoiding displays of power, aggression, or endurance that might blur gender norms.¹² Sports like figure skating, gymnastics, and artistic swimming were prioritized over track and field, weightlifting, or team-based competitions. Even uniforms were subject to scrutiny, with female athletes expected to uphold standards of modesty and appearance that often hindered performance.¹³

Still, the symbolic and practical impact of their presence on the Olympic stage—no matter how restricted—was significant. By the 1948 London Games, held just after World War II, women made up about 9% of all competitors, a notable increase compared to earlier decades.¹⁴ That year, Dutch sprinter and mother of two, Fanny Blankers-Koen, won four gold medals in track and field, defying both the notion that motherhood was incompatible with elite sport and the broader cultural narrative that women lacked competitive endurance.¹⁵ Similarly, American athlete Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias had already demonstrated in the 1930s that women could dominate across multiple sports, from track and field to golf. Her success captured global attention and disrupted deeply held beliefs about female athletic inferiority.¹⁶