Athletes: Cynisca

Womanica

Cynisca (c. 440 BCE) was the first woman to ever win an event at the Olympic Games. By exploiting a loophole in the rule that only men could participate in the games, she paved the way for the woman Olympians of today.

For Further Reading:

• Cynisca of Sparta - World History Encyclopedia
• Hidden women of history: Kyniska, the first female Olympian
• Cynisca and the Heraean Games: The Female Athletes of Ancient Greece
• “The Only Woman in All Greece”: Kyniska, Agesilaus, Alcibades and Olympia

This month we're celebrating the women who performed physical and mental feats in sports. They overcame societal barriers, personal struggles, and fierce competition to pursue their dreams of glory. We're talking about Athletes.

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