The Untold Story Of Alice Milliat, Pioneer Of Women's Olympic Games

Alice Joséphine Marie Milliat, born on May 5, 1884, and passing on May 19, 1957, was a formidable advocate for women's sports. Her relentless efforts led to the increased inclusion of women's events in the Olympic Games. As a pivotal member of Fémina Sport and a key figure in the Fédération Française Sportive Féminine (FFSF), Milliat's legacy is indelibly etched in the history of women's athletics.

Early Life and Introduction to Sports

Alice Milliat was born Alice Joséphine Marie Million in Nantes, France. The eldest of five children, she came from a family of grocers. Her mother later worked as a seamstress, while her father was employed in an office. In 1904, Alice moved to England, where she married Joseph Milliat, also from Nantes. Tragically, Joseph died in 1908, leaving Alice a widow with no children.

While in England, Milliat discovered her passion for rowing and subsequently engaged in swimming and field hockey. After her husband's death, she travelled extensively, developing language skills that enabled her to work as a translator upon returning to France at the outbreak of World War I.

Formation of the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale

The revival of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 marked the beginning of modern international sports competitions. However, women's inclusion was minimal, limited to golf and tennis in the 1900 Olympics. Despite the gradual addition of events like swimming, women's track and field were notably absent.

Milliat, a member of Fémina Sport since its founding in 1911, helped establish the Fédération Française Sportive Féminine (FFSF) in 1917. She became its treasurer and later, in March 1919, its president. Her efforts to include women's track and field events in the 1924 Olympic Games were rebuffed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), prompting her to organise alternative events.

The Women's World Games

Milliat's response to the exclusion of women's track and field from the Olympics was to create the Women's Olympiad in Monte Carlo in 1921. This event was a forerunner to the Women's World Games, held from 1922 to 1934. The first of these games took place in Pershing Stadium, Paris, in August 1922, featuring five teams from the United States, Great Britain, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, and France. The event drew a crowd of 20,000 and saw several world records broken.

Milliat's choice of Paris as the venue was strategic, intended to challenge Pierre de Coubertin, an outspoken opponent of women's participation in the Olympics. Her efforts eventually pressured the IOC to include women's events in the 1928 Olympics. Despite this progress, Milliat and her supporters continued to push for greater equality, organizing further editions of the Women's World Games in Gothenburg (1926), Prague (1930), and London (1934).

Advocacy and Legacy

Milliat's activism extended beyond organizing sporting events. She managed a French women's football team that toured the United Kingdom in 1920, advocating for the sport through her writings in French magazines. She also championed women's suffrage, believing it was crucial for advancing women's sports.

In 1934, Milliat spoke to the Women's Magazine Independent Woman, emphasising the connection between women's voting rights and the promotion of women's sports. She argued that without the vote, women could not effectively advocate for their needs, including the development of sports facilities.

Milliat's legacy is celebrated through various honours, including a statue at the French Olympic Committee's headquarters in Paris 2021. Her efforts laid the groundwork for the increased participation of women in the Olympics, a process that continued long after she died in Paris on May 19, 1957.

Alice Milliat's dedication and perseverance significantly impacted women's sports, overcoming societal and institutional barriers. Her work with the FFSF and the Women's World Games provided a platform for female athletes, ultimately leading to greater inclusion in the Olympics. Milliat's legacy endures, inspiring future generations to strive for equality in sports and beyond.