The French Historian Who Invented the Olympics
Pierre de Coubertin harnessed an enduring fascination with ancient Greece to create a new institution that blended national pride with global unity.
How a Paris Meet Changed Women’s Track and Field
In the early twentieth century, women were discouraged from competing in track and field. The First International Track Meet for Women helped change that.
Sport in America: A Reading List
Covering the colonial era to the present, this annotated bibliography demonstrates the topical and methodological diversity of sport studies in the United States.
Masculinity, Boxing, and the “Wild Brawl” That Changed the Sport
Bennie “Kid” Paret and Emile Griffith were both ready to fight, but it was unlikely either boxer was prepared for the outcome of their final bout.
Pole Vaulting Over the Iron Curtain
When it became clear that the United States and its allies couldn’t “liberate” Eastern Europe through psychological war and covert ops, they turned to sports.
How to Fight Like a Girl
Women have been punching each other in the face (during boxing matches) since the early 1700s.
The Sweet Sixteen of Sneakers on JSTOR
Why should basketball fans have all the March Madness fun? We're running a basketball sneaker bracket. Play along on Twitter.
Gender Incommensurability In Sports
Cultural systems have historically defined sex segregation. The imperfect science has led to failures in policing gender in sports.
Fairness on the Fairway: Public Golf Courses and Civil Rights
Organized movements to bring racial equality to the golf course have been part of the sport since the early 1900s.
When Men Join Cheer
What happens when former football players, accustomed to practicing and playing in all-male environments, join gender-integrated cheerleading squads?