International Women's day: A brief history of the Women in sports

IKEJA, Nigeria - March 8, 2023 - PRLog -- Since the early days of modern, organized sports, women have fought for equity in sports, from equal wages among male and female athletes to simply the right to take the field. From modern-day superstars like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Megan Rapinoe, to the early advocates for women's place in sports, female athletes have been making their mark on athletics for centuries.

While less common in many cultures, there were ancient women who participated in sports. In Homer's Odyssey, he tells the story of Odysseus waking up to the sound of Princess Nausicaa and her handmaidens playing ball with one another on a river bank. In Ancient Greece, women were able to participate in foot races at some festivals and could win Olympic victories through equestrian events, though were forbidden from all other Olympic events. Spartan women participated in sports as men did; wrestling, javelin throwing, foot racing, and discus were all standard for women to compete in.

Top 5 Influential Women in Sports

1.       Serena Williams: Serena Jameka Williams is an American inactive professional tennis player. Considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, she was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association for 319 weeks.

2.       Ronda Rousey: Ronda Jean Rousey is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka, and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand.

3.       Maria Shraprova: Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is a Russian former world No. 1 tennis player. She competed on the WTA Tour from 2001 to 2020 and was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association for 21 weeks.

4.       Alex Morgan: Alexandra Morgan Carrasco is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker and captain of San Diego Wave FC, the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team.

5.       Sania Mirza: Sania Mirza is an Indian former professional tennis player. A former doubles world No. 1, she won six major titles – three in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles.

Despite barriers, women have fought — and continue to fight — to be seen as equal in their athletic capabilities.