Women at the Games

A winding journey since 1896
by Julia Solans and Julien Moreau

128 years of history and Olympism gathered in a single work. It is not men but women who are in the spotlight. Throughout a winding journey, sportswomen gradually found their place after more than a century of struggle. Reduced to silence, they were simply banned from the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 before timidly entering in 1900. The following decades, carried by committed female figures, triggered a constant evolution towards greater acceptance of women at the Games and more generally in the sporting world. While its rise is undeniable, many prohibitions and taboos still stand in its way. Paris 2024 stands out from all other editions, summer and winter, by becoming the first to have equal numbers of participants. But all the small victories celebrated during these years would never have been possible without the upheavals of History, from global conflicts to technological and social advances. Throughout the pages, Women at the Games interweaves sport and society, two distinct words that can sometimes become one.

THE AUTHORS

Julia Solans is a journalist passionate about sports, cinema, history and loves telling anecdotes. After a degree in modern literature and a master's degree in sports journalism at the IEJ, she worked on various sports editorial teams ( FranceTV Sport, RMC Sport, Equidia , etc.) before moving towards more general news while maintaining personal projects, starting with this book.
Julien Moreau is a journalist who has been passionate about sports since childhood and loves cycling. A graduate in political science and international relations followed by a master's degree in sports journalism at the IEJ, he has worked for many sports editorial offices including L' Équipe.fr and Eurosport . In 2023, he wrote his first book, the biography of his idol: "Alberto Contador: El Pistolero" published by Talent Sport.