ABSTRACT
For a young adult woman, sports opportunities vary markedly, depending on her region, her culture, and the sport. There are still some barriers for women’s participation in competitions in some areas and sports, but, despite all these barriers, the number of female participants in athletic events is increasing. For instance, 42% of the athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were female. By 2010, only three countries had never sent female athletes to the Olympic Games, and boxing was the only sport that did not include events for women. Considering the increased participation of girls and women in different types of sport and competition, the subject of the “female athlete” has been receiving more attention from the sports medicine community. This chapter will review some findings in this vast area.
