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
Women's swimming in Australia allow women to compete in the 1938 Empire Games. The decision was made that year that the Australians were to host the event and they were the ones who would determine what events would be competed. The women's events that were to be included were swimming and athletics, events that Australia was to dominate in. During the 1950s, Australian women dominated the swimming competitions at the Empire Games. The most famous of these swimmers were Marjory McQuade, Lorraine Crapp and Dawn Fraser. The first Olympic gold medal to be officially awarded to a woman at any Olympics was the Australian