In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games, in Athens in 1896, there were no events for women. Four years later, at the Paris 1900 Games, female athletes entered the fray. They had to wear petticoats under their long skirts, as well as knee-length socks and hats as they battled for medals in tennis, golf and croquet. However, an unstoppable momentum had begun.

Since then, women have won the right to compete on running tracks, playing fields and indoor courts, in swimming pools and even rings in search of Olympic glory. At London 2012, equality was finally achieved, as women were granted access to the final sport they had been excluded from: boxing.

At Rio 2016, women will take part in the two new additions to the Olympic programme – rugby and golf – and the number of female athletes will be close to 50 per cent.

Victoria Lovelady going back to her roots at Rio 2016 golf test event

Women rugby players helping grow sport in Brazil ahead of Olympic return

The graph below, based on numbers form the International Olympic Committee (IOC), shows how women have gradually increased their role in the Games: from 2.2% at Paris 1900 to 44.2% at London 2012, where 4,676 female athletes competed.

Equality behind the scenes too

At the 1994 Olympic Congress in Paris, which was the century edition, the IOC recommended the promotion of equal opportunities, with quotas for women in National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) followed the recommendation: of 210 staff today, 106 are women.

The human resources department in the Rio 2016 organising committee also treats diversity and equality seriously, and has regular discussion groups. Licensing director Sylmara Multini, who leads the gender group and monitors equality within the committee, said: “About 20 people take part in the group, in which we talk about the importance of diversity and equality in opportunities.” Such initiatives were recognised when Rio 2016 earned the Brazilian government’s certificate for racial and gender equality.

Women warriors show they can be ‘pretty and strong’ at wrestling test event

Timeline: see how women won equality at the Olympic Games over the last 120 years...