A look at inspiring women throughout Olympic history who helped pave the way for female athletes. Throughout the 20th century, many people fought and succeeded in being seen as equal no matter their gender, orientation, race or religion. The Paris 1900 Summer Olympics allowed women to compete for the first time. The games saw 22 women compete in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf.   Being an athlete was not the only milestone that women achieved during the 1900 Games. Winning an Olympic medal was another one. Helen de Portals, a Swiss-American countess, was the first woman to compete in the Olympics and also became the first woman to…