For the first time in modern Olympic history, women dominated both in events and worldwide recognition. More than 65,000 spectators crammed the stands to see the U.S. women claim a soccer gold medal, while thousands more experienced history as the U.S. claimed the first gold medal ever awarded in softball. In fact, women in this year's games comprised 34.4 percent of the competitors, compared to 20.6 percent in Montreal's 1976 games. This year marked competition by the first generation of female athletes who have benefited fully from Title IX, many of whom were coached by women who blazed athletic trails for this year's medalists. To start with, know the law.
Discrimination is illegal.
The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act will go into effect Oct. 1. All institutions receiving federal aid will be required to make public the revenues and expenditures of their sports programs, as well as other pertinent data on personnel, scholarships and teams. Encourage young women in athletics and advocacy groups to request copies of this report from their institution. After several failed attempts in the U.S. in the late 1970s and early '80s, a professional league for women looks like a sure bet to succeed, particularly on the heels of the Olympics. Tryouts provided an additional pool of some 100 players who were eligible for the league draft in June.