Lecturas en inglés para adolescentes: 10 amazing facts about Women in Sports

10 datos sorprendentes sobre las mujeres en el deporte en inglés para practicar el idioma

A través de la historia del deporte, las mujeres han tenido que abrirse camino a base de mucho esfuerzo, constancia y lucha. ¿Quieres saber algo sobre lo logros de las mujeres en el deporte? Te invitamos a leer 10 amazing facts about Women in Sports. Una lectura muy entretenida elaborada por la redacción de la revista para aprender inglés I Love English, que ayudará a los adolescentes entre 12 y 15 años a mejorar su nivel de inglés, y además, a apreder una serie de datos muy interesantes.

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10 amazing facts about Women in Sports: lectura en inglés para estudiantes de Secundaria

10 amazing facts about Women in Sports

1. Although women were technically permitted to participate in many sports, relatively few did until the late 19^th century, when women's sport history is considered to start. Back then, although horseback riding, archery, golf, tennis, skiing and skating were practiced among women in the upper social class, there was often disapproval of women who played sport.

2. The first Olympic games in the modern era, in 1896, were not open to women. The first time for female athletes to participate in the Olympic games was in 1900. Only 12 female athletes participated out of the 1066 athletes from 19 countries. They competed in only golf and tennis. In the 3rd St. Louis Olympics, archery was the only women's event. In the 4th London Olympics, archery, figure skating and tennis became women's events, and diving, swimming and tennis in the 5th Stockholm Olympics.

3. There are a few sports where men and women compete together: in mixed events or in truly mixed sports. Sports that operate in mixed events are badminton, luge, tennis and ice skating. In badminton, men and women compete as a male/female duo; in luge they compete by teams with equal numbers of men and women; in tennis, men and women compete as a male/female team in mixed doubles matches; and in ice skating male/female pairs compete together performing a dance on the ice.

4. Sports where men and women compete against each other regardless of sex, as the physical differences between them are considered to not have any effect on the outcome of the competition, are equestrian, in which the attributes required to win are just to be an able rider, and sailing, but only in one particular class, the Nacre 17.

5. Women that have broken boundaries in sports! African American sprinter Wilma Rudolph was the first woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. Despite the loss of strength in her left leg, caused by polio, she became the fastest woman in the world at the 1960 Olympics. Former World No. 1 Billie Jean King is regarded as one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time. She won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles.

6. Lindsey Vonn is one of the greatest skiers ever, with three Olympic medals, four World Cup titles, 82 World Cup victories and two World Championship gold medals. Aly Raisman is a two-time Olympic gymnast who won the team gold medal, floor gold medal and bronze medal on balance beam in 2012. Alex Morgan is the co-captain for the United States Women's Soccer Team and won her second consecutive FIFA World Cup championship in 2019.

7. Along with her sister Venus Williams, Serena Williams is considered pioneer of a new era for women in tennis that is focused in power. They often play doubles together and have won 22 titles. Individually, Serena has won 73 titles. Danica Patrick is probably the most successful woman in the history of open-wheel racing. She was the first and only woman to win an IndyCar Series race. Swimmer Katie Ledecky won five Olympic gold medals and 14 world championship gold medals, a record for a female swimmer!

8. Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast with 25 Olympic and World Championship medals. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are considered the greatest beach volleyball team. They won three consecutive Olympic gold medals from 2004-12. Romanian Nadia Comaneci brought attention to the sport worldwide for being the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10 score. She won five gold medals in individual events.

9. Martina Navratilova is considered to be one of the best female tennis players in history. She is the only player to be ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles for over 200 weeks. Multi-sport American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics and won a total of 82 gold tournaments. She participated in basketball, baseball, softball, diving, roller-skating, and bowling.

10. Now it is common to see thousands of women competing in worldwide sporting events, but there are no women coaching men's sports teams at the professional level. Yet, it is the norm for men to coach women's sport teams! Some say this is because there is a lack of female candidates who seek such jobs. Others claim that women lack the necessary experience... What do you think? Do you know other women in sports that have been making an impact and serving as inspirations to those who wish to accomplish the same?

Now it is your turn to do a bit of research: which sport is Larisa Latynina known for?