Women began competing in Olympic track and field events in 1928, and the world has watched in awe ever since. The athletic performances are impressive, and the stories behind them equally so. In 1960, for instance, American Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals, belying the fact she had suffered from polio as a child. Along with the celebration of athleticism, Olympic competitions over the years have included several controversies among women track and field stars.
Track Events
Events have changed over the years, but in 2008, women's Olympic track competitions included 10 running races, one walking race and three kinds of hurdle jumps. The running races, from the 100-meter run to the marathon, are mostly individual events but include some relays. Along with Wilma Rudolph, famous track competitors have included Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands, who won four gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics, and American Florence Griffith-Joyner, who won four gold and one silver in Seoul in 1988.
Field Events
The 2008 Olympics featured eight field events for women. The four jumping events included the pole vault and the high, long and triple jumps. The four throwing events were discus, shot putt, javelin and hammer. American Mildred (Babe) Didrikson is one of the most famous women Olympians in the history of field events. At the 1932 games in Los Angeles, she won gold medals for javelin and high jump in addition to one for hurdles in track.
The Heptathlon
The women's heptathlon, combining seven track and field events, has been a part of the Olympics since 1984. In 2008, track included 200- and 800-meter races plus 100-meter hurdles. Field included the high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin throw. Jackie Joyner-Kersee of the United States is one of the most famous heptathletes, winning one silver and two gold medals in three Olympic competitions.
Controversies
Women's Olympic track and field competition has seen its share of controversy over the years. At the 1984 games in Los Angeles, American runner Mary Decker accused South African competitor Zola Budd of deliberately knocking her off balance during a race. American track star Marion Jones won five medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but she returned all of them after she was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.
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