Summary:
The purpose of this study is, on the one hand, to record the athletic achievements of female Olympic Winners and, on the other hand, to investigate and highlight the relationship between their athletic accomplishments and the erection of statues in their honor. The questions to be answered focus on the significance and the message conveyed by the process of erecting these statues. They also delve into the importance of the chosen locations and their impact on the broader public. Additionally, a comparative analysis with similar statues and sculptures of male athletes raises valid concerns. Keywords such as statues, women, Olympians, and gender equality in statue creation were used to gather information. Databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, etc., accessible through the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA), were selected for this purpose. For this literature review, studies were chosen and evaluated, and their results are subsequently presented and grouped into relevant sections. In conclusion, if the purpose of erecting statues is to inspire future generations of athletes and not merely to honor their athletic careers, then the equal artistic representation of both genders is more important than ever, serving as timeless examples of ‘fair play’.
Keywords:
Keywords: history of sport, female Olympic winners, statues, equality in sport, Olympic Games
