Women were not considered in preliminary discussions concerning the events, designation of participants, competitive attire, and problems relating to amateurism in the first Olympic games. Golf was the first sport in which women participated in the Olympics, and the first woman to achieve Olympic recognition for the United States did so by winning the women's international singles golf event in 1900. Women's tennis was included in the games of the second Olympiad, and archery for women in the third. Swimming and diving events were opened to women for the 1912 Olympics although the United States and France had voted against their inclusion. The United States did not have a women's swimming and diving team compete until 1920, at which time the U.S. team won four out of five events. At this same Olympiad, a conflict in scheduling arose between Olympic officials and the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association which prevented both men and women from representing the United States in tennis in the 1920 Olympics. Since the limited representation of American women during the first seven Olympiads, improvement can be seen in (a) performances, (b) the number of events open to women, (c) the increasing number of participants, (d) media coverage of women's competition, and (e) the acceptance of women who participate in sport. (PB)