Participation of women in the Olympics winning the inaugural gold. At the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, no changes were made to any female events. Fifteen year old Sonja Henie won her first of three Olympic gold medals. The summer Games of the same year saw the debut of women's athletics and gymnastics. In athletics, women competed in the 100 metres, 800 metres, 4 × 100 metres relay, high jump and discus throw. The 800-metre race was controversial as many competitors were reportedly exhausted or were unable to complete the race. Consequentially, the IOC decided to drop the 800 metres from the programme, and not
Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. It was the first time the 50 kilometres race walk appeared in the men's athletics at the Games. This was only the second time women's events in athletics were included in the Olympic Games program and the first time that women competed in the javelin throw at the Olympics. There was a total of 386 participants from 34 countries competing. Paavo Nurmi from Finland was suspended one week before the Games by the IAAF