Half the race : a history of Australian women in sport

Abstract

Australian women's success in international sport has been nothing short of astonishing when you consider the encouragement, resources, facilities and sponsorship directed elsewhere. Women have won the most prestigious titles in the world, including Wimbledon, the USA Open Golf Championship and the British Squash Championship. Women's teams have been the world champions in netball, hockey, cricket, softball, lacrosse and waterpolo. Australian women's names have been etched in the record books of sport throughout the world. At the Commonwealth and Olympic Games generations of Australian women have crowded the victory dais. Over the years 940 women have represented their country at all the Games, winning an incredible 425 medals — 163 of them gold medals. But after the golden girl hype has died down and the gold dust has settled, women's sport is ultimately awarded a bronze medal in our national identity, a cultural third place behind sportsmen and racehorses. Show more