Skip to content

Groundbreakers: How much do you know about these female sports pioneers?

Dennis Oulds / Hulton Archive / Getty

Wednesday marked 49 years since Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in a professional race alongside men at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Miami, Fla. A year later, she became the first woman to participate in the Kentucky Derby, placing 15th while riding a horse named Fathom.

Crump was a trailblazer; the sporting world has progressively become more receptive, welcoming female athletes, coaches, referees, and commentators into some of the professional leagues typically monopolized by men.

See how much you know about the history of sports' female vanguard here:

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox