List of Influential Woman in Sports

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While they do not often get as much credit as men, women in sports have been documented even in the B.C.’s. There are many popular women who have excelled in all sport areas, especially ones such as tennis, gymnastics and track and field. However, there are women who participate in every sport and should be duly noted for their accomplishments.

The history of women in sports can be traced back all the way to 776 B.C. A timeline of woman in sports 1406 to 2010.

List of Woman Who Excelled at Sports

Chioma Ajunwa
1970-
From: NigeriaSport:long jump

Evelyn Ashford
1957-
From: United States: California, Louisiana
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Shannon Bahrke
1980-
From: United States: California, Nevada, Utah
Sport:skiing, skier

Courtenay Becker-Dey
1965-
From: United States: Connecticut
Sport:sailing

Kiran Bedi
1949-
From: IndiaSport:Indian Police, tennis

Bonnie Blair
1964-
From: United States: Illinois, New York
Sport:speedskater

Fanny Blankers-Koen
1918-2004
From: Netherlands
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Ruthie Bolton
1967-
From: United States: California, Mississippi
Sport:basketball

Amanda Borden
1977-
From: United States: Ohio
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Hassiba Boulmerka
1968-
From: Algeria
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Janine Bowman
1973-
From: United States: Rhode Island
Sport:shooting

Marjorie Brasuhn
1923?-1971
From: United States: Hawaii, Minnesota
Sport:Roller Derby

Torah Bright
1986-
From: Australia, United States: Utah
Sport:snowboarder

Valerie Brisco-Hooks
1960-
From: United States: California, Mississippi
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Renee Brown
From: United States
Sport:basketball

Eryn Bulmer
1976-
From: Canada
Sport:diving, diver

Beryl Burton
1937-1996
From: United Kingdom
Sport:cycling

Lanee Carrie Butler
1970-
From: United States: New York
Sport:sailing

Kitty Calhoun
From: United States: South Carolina
Sport:ice climbing

Ann Calvello
1929-2006
From: United States: California
Sport:Roller Derby

Helen Hannah Campbell
1916-
From: United States: California
Sport:U.S. Marine, chaperone and manager of a women’s baseball team

Connie Carpenter-Phinney
1957-
From: United States: Wisconsin
Sport:racing cyclist, speed skater

Rosemary Casals
1948-
From: United States
Sport:tennis

Christina Cassidy
1982-
From: United States
Sport:shooting

Florence Chadwick
1918-1995
From: United States: California
Sport:swimming

Brandi Chastain
1968-
From: United States: California
Sport:soccer, football

Amy Chow
1978-
From: United States: California
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Loretta Claiborne
1953-
From: United States: Pennsylvania
Sport:Special Olympics

Melinda Cleland
1984-
From: Australia
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Amanda Coetzer
1971-
From: South Africa
Sport:tennis

Nadia Comaneci
1961-
From: Romania
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Maureen Connolly
1934-1969
From: United States: California
Sport:tennis

Myrtle Cook
1902-1985
From: Canada
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Stephanie Cook
From: United Kingdom
Sport:pentathlon, pentathlete

Margaret Court
1942-
From: Australia
Sport:tennis

Cornelia Crosby
1854-1946
From: United States: Maine
Sport:hunting and fishing, guide

Julie Croteau
1970-
From: United States: Hawaii, Virginia
Sport:baseball player, coach, Hawaiian Winter Baseball League

Gunn-Rita Dahle
1973-
From: Norway
Sport:mountain biker

Sylvie Daigle
1962-
From: Canada
Sport:speed skating

Jamie Dantzscher
1982-
From: United States: California
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Lindsay Davenport
1976-
From: United States
Sport:tennis

Michelle Davison
1979-
From: United States
Sport:diving, diver

Dominique Dawes
1976-
From: United States: Maryland
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Emily DeRiel
1974-
From: United States: Massachusetts
Sport:pentathlon, pentathlete

Gail Devers
1966-
From: United States: California, Washington
Sport:track-and-field, track and field

Jayme Dickman
1977-
From: United States: Indiana
Sport:shooting

Babe Didrickson Zaharias
1911-1956
From: United States: Texas
Sport:golf, basketball, track-and-field, track and field, swimming, baseball

Nancy Drolet
1973-
From: Canada
Sport:hockey

Alison Dunlap
1969-
From: United States: Utah
Sport:cycling

Malgorzata Margo Dydek
1974-
From: Poland, United States: California
Sport:basketball

Janet Dykman
1954-
From: United States: California
Sport:archery

Gertrude Caroline Ederle
1906-2003
From: United States: New York
Sport:swimming, swimmer

Teresa Edwards
1964-
From: United States: Georgia
Sport:basketball

Ludmila Engquist
1964-
From: Russia, Sweden
Sport:hurdles

Chris Evert
1954-
From: United States

Peggy Fleming
1948-
From: United States: California

Althea Gibson
1927-2003
From: United States: Florida, New York, South Carolina
Sport:tennis

Evonne Goolagong Cawley
1951-
From: Australia
Sport:tennis

Yolanda Griffith
1970-
From: United States: Florida, Illinois
Sport:basketball

Dorothy Hamill
1956-
From: United States: Connecticut

Jennifer Heil
1983-
From: Canada
Sport:skiing, skier

Sonja Henie
1912-1969
From: Norway

Chamique Holdsclaw
1977-
From: United States: New York, Tennessee
Sport:basketball

Marion Jones
1975-
From: United States: California
Sport:track and field, track-and-field

Florence Griffith Joyner
1959-1998
From: United States: California
Sport:track and field, track-and-field

Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1962-
From: United States: California, Illinois
Sport:heptathlon, long jump

Dorothy Kamenshek
1925-2010
From: United States: California, Ohio
Sport:baseball, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

Hannah Kearney
1986-
From: United States: New Hampshire, Vermont
Sport:skiing, skier

Billie Jean King
1943-
From: United States: California

Olga Korbut
1956-
From: Belarus, Russia, United States: Arizona, Georgia
Sport:Olympic gymnast

Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen
1899-1938
From: France

Lisa Leslie
1972-
From: United States: California
Sport:basketball

Nancy Lopez
1957-
From: United States: California, Oklahoma

Helen Santos Luz
1972-
From: Brazil
Sport:basketball

Julia Mancuso
1984-
From: United States: California, Nevada
Sport:skiing, skier

Kate Markgraf
1976-
From: United States: Illinois, Michigan
Sport:soccer, football

Nikki McCray
1971-
From: United States: South Carolina, Tennessee
Sport:basketball

Carla McGhee
1968-
From: United States: Illinois, South Carolina, Tennessee
Sport:basketball

Shannon Miller
1977-
From: United States: Missouri

DeLisha Milton-Jones
1974-
From: United States: California, Georgia
Sport:basketball

Erin Mirabella
1978-
From: United States: WisconsinSport:cycling

Maria Mutola
1972-
From: MozambiqueSport:track and field, track-and-field, soccer

Martina Navratilova
1956-
From: Czech Republic, United States: FloridaSport:tennis

Annie Oakley
1860-1926
From: United States: OhioSport:sharpshooter, exhibition shooter

Merlene Ottey
1960-
From: Jamaica, SloveniaSport:track and field, track-and-field

Se Ri Pak
1977-
From: Korea (South), United States: Florida
Sport:golf

Audrey
1926-1996
From: United States: California, Louisiana
Sport:track and field, track-and-field

Marie-Jose Perec
1968-
From: France, Guadeloupe
Sport:track and field, track-and-field

Chantal Petitclerc
1969-
From: Canada
Sport:wheelchair racer

Mary Pierce
1975-
From: Canada, France, United States: Florida
Sport:tennis

Mary Lou Retton
1968-
From: United States: West Virginia
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Kristi Richards
1981-
From: Canada
Sport:skiing, skier

Michelle Roark
1974-
From: United States: Colorado
Sport:skiing, skier

Wilma Rudolph
1940-1994
From: United States: Tennessee
Sport:track and field, track-and-field

Angelle Sampey
1970-
From: United States: Louisiana
Sport:motorcycle racing

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
1971-
From: Spain
Sport:tennis

Summer Sanders
1972-
From: United States: California
Sport:swimming, swimmer

Sang Xue
1984-
From: China
Sport:diving

Karen Scavotto
1982-
From: United States: Connecticut
Sport:archery

Barbara Schett
1976-
From: Austria
Sport:tennis

Sarah Schleper
1979-
From: United States: Colorado
Sport:skiing, skier

Sandra Schmirler
1963-2000
From: Canada
Sport:curling

Tasha Schwikert
1984-
From: United States: Nevada
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Barbara Ann Scott
1928-
From: Canada
Sport:figure skating, figure skater

Briana Scurry
1971-
From: United States: Georgia, Minnesota
Sport:soccer, football

Monica Seles
1973-
From: Yugoslavia, United States: Florida
Sport:tennis

Anne-Gaelle Sidot
1979-
From: France
Sport:tennis

Sissi (footballer)
1967-
From: Brazil, United States: California
Sport:soccer, football

Lisa Skinner
1981-
From: Australia
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Allana Slater
1984-
From: Australia
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Katie Smith (basketball player)
1974-
From: United States: Ohio
Sport:basketball

Marta Sobral
1964-
From: Brazil
Sport:basketball

Dawn Staley
1970-
From: United States: Pennsylvania, South Carolina
Sport:basketball

Resi Stiegler
1985-
From: United States: Wyoming
Sport:skiing, skier

Kerri Strug
1977-
From: United States: Arizona, California, Washington DC
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Sheryl Swoopes
1971-
From: United States: Texas
Sport:basketball

Irena Szewinska
1946-
From: Poland, Russia
Sport:track and field, track-and-field, sprinter

Sandrine Testud
1972-
From: France
Sport:tennis

Helen Thayer
1938?-
From: New Zealand, United States: Washington
Sport:track and field, track-and-field, luge

Jenny Thompson
1973-
From: United States: Massachusetts, New York
Sport:swimming, swimmer

Michele Timms
1965-
From: Australia, United States
Sport:basketball

Amy Y. Tong
1977-
From: United States: Hawaii
Sport:judo

Amy Van Dyken
1973-
From: United States: Arizona, Colorado
Sport:swimming, swimmer

Anky van Grunsven
1968-
From: Netherlands
Sport:equestrian

Tara VanDerveer
1953-
From: United States: California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio
Sport:basketball

Valentina Vezzali
1974-
From: Italy
Sport:fencing

Lindsey Vonn
1984-
From: United States: Colorado, Minnesota
Sport:skiing, skier

Isabell Werth
1969-
From: Germany
Sport:equestrian

Joanie Weston
1935-1997
From: United States: California
Sport:Roller Derby

Sara Whalen
1976-
From: United States: Massachusetts, New York
Sport:soccer, football

Loudy (Tourky) Wiggins
1979-
From: Australia, Israel
Sport:diving, diver

Natalie Williams
1970-
From: United States: California, Utah
Sport:basketball

Serena Williams
1981-
From: United States: Florida, Michigan
Sport:tennis

Venus Williams
1980-
From: United States: Florida, Michigan
Sport:tennis

Alison Williamson
1971-
From: United Kingdom
Sport:archery

Helen Newington Wills
1905-1998
From: United States: California
Sport:tennis

Ellen Bernice Wilson
1976-
From: United States: California
Sport:judo

Katarina Witt
1965-
From: Germany
Sport:figure skating, figure skater

Chris Witty
1975-
From: United States: Wisconsin
Sport:speed skating, speed skater, cycling

Hillary Wolf
1977-
From: United States: Illinois
, Stage and ScreenSport:judo, actress

Kara Wolters
1975-
From: United States: Massachusetts
Sport:basketball

Lynette Woodard
1959-
From: United States: Kansas
Sport:basketball

Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi
1971-
From: United States: California
Sport:figure skating, figure skater

Connie Paraskevin Young
1961-
From: United States: Michigan
Sport:cycling

Elena Zamolodchikova
1982-
From: Russia
Sport:gymnast, gymnastics

Olena Zhupina
1973-
From: Ukraine
Sport:diving, diver

Felicia Zimmermann
1975-
From: United States: New York
Sport:fencing

Iris Zimmermann
1981-
From: United States: New York
Sport:fencing

Resources about Woman in Sports

Other informative articles include the Women’s Sports Foundation, a sport’s history piece, and Women’s Sports Net, for sport stories and more.

The Sport’s Journal discusses the history of women in sports, and ESPN talks about Women’s History Month. 

For a feminist’s view of the subject, go to CWRL.

Women’s Sports Online celebrates all women’s achievements in the sports world, and to look at famous sports women, check out Great Women, a Hall of Fame for women.

Many famous women are very well known today. These include the gymnast Mary Lou Retton, the tennis players Chris Evert and Anna Kournikova, the track-and-field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and the late Ada Mackenzie, who is considered a pioneer in women’s golf.

For a comprehensive list of famous women in sports, go to the Women’s Sports Page. A history of women in basketball can be found at the Women’s Basketball Museum.

More information about the subject can be read at Women’s Sports and NBC Olympics. Women have always been, and will continue to be, a major factor in sporting events, and it is worth the time to learn more. Their accomplishments have been huge in the world of sports, and their legacy continues to live on.

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