Olympic Games Olympic Games held at the Paris Exposition in 1900 and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904 were side shows. The Games in Paris did not have a stadium, but were notable for being the first time women took part in the Games. When the St. Louis Games were celebrated roughly 650 athletes participated, but 580 were from the United States. The homogeneous nature of these celebrations was a low point for the Olympic Movement. The Games rebounded when the 1906 Intercalated Games (so-called because they were the second Games held within the third Olympiad) were held in
Participation of women in the Olympics held in Berlin but were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I. In 1920, 65 women competed at the Games. Archery was re-added to the programme. Paris 1924 boasted a record 135 female athletes. Fencing was added to the programme and archery was removed. 1924 saw the inception of the Winter Olympics where women competed in the sole sport of figure skating. Herma Szabo became the first ever female Winter Olympic champion after she won the ladies' singles competition. At the summer Games held the same year in Paris, women's fencing made its debut with Dane, Ellen Osiier