Abstract
This article examines the historical and contemporary dynamics of women’s sport in Australia, focusing on persistent discrimination and evolving forms of inclusion. Drawing on historical sources, tracing how medical and social discourses from the 19th and 20th centuries constructed women’s sport as harmful or inappropriate, shaping long-standing restrictions on participation. It argues that despite increased participation and visibility, women have faced enduring structural, cultural, and legal barriers to equitable access in sport.