Women and Athletics

Women were completely banned from competing at and even attending the Games. At the Olympic Games the only woman allowed to be present was the priestess of Demeter. The first time we hear of a woman victor in the Olympics is the Spartan Princess Kyniska in the fourth century BCE. However, she won a horse-race, which means that she didn't compete herself at the Games, but was simply the owner of the horse.

Women did participate in athletics in Sparta and in some other parts of Greece, such as the games of Hera at Elis (the location of the Olympic Games). Again there is a strong cult connection, as with male events. Female athletic events were separate and were not attended by men.