Wonder Woman of the Week: Kyniska of Sparta

I like to highlight women athletes- mostly because I grew up playing sports, but also because athletes employ enviable levels of leadership, dedication, and discipline. Most of the athletes I spotlight are from within the last hundred years, but not this week’s. This week, I want to talk about one of history’s earliest recorded female athletes. She bred and trained chariot horses, competed in ancient athletics, and was the first recorded woman to win an Olympic event. Kyniska of Sparta is the Wonder Woman of the Week.

First, let’s take a look at Ancient Greece through Kyniska’s eyes. Kyniska was a woman of Sparta- quite possible the most feminist society in history. Spartan women had a reputation for independent-mindedness and their social power outmatched all other women in Ancient Greece. While Spartan women by no means received the military training men had, women were still educated and were permitted to compete against men in athletic competitions- mostly javelin throwing and wrestling. In Sparta- a woman attracted men not by looking pretty, but by showing their worth as an athlete. Adult Spartan women could even own property just like the men. [1]

Growing up in Sparta, Princess Kyniska was considered masculine for her times. She was wealthy and excelled at equestrian sports. The Olympics at the time were male only. Even the audience was limited to men and unmarried women. (Don’t let married women see naked guys!) Women however were permitted to train and manage equestrian teams- and thus Kyniska had a shot at fame. Her lifelong training of breeding horses was put to the test. She handpicked her (male) jockeys and trained her horses herself. [2]

In 396BC, Kyniska’s handpicked team won the chariot race. In the original games, the owner of a horse used in races won the trophy rather than the rider- which meant Kyniska won an Olympic event when only men could compete (Maybe her horse was male?) Kyniska won praise- even outside of Sparta- as the first women to win an Olympic event. That was big news considering women were banned from competing. To go even further, in the next Olympics in 392BC, Kyniska’s horses won again. Two monuments were erected in Olympia (host city of the games) to the woman. [3]

Kyniska of Sparta is the Wonder Woman of the week because against all odds- and possibly rule violations- she became the first woman to win an all-male competition. She mastered the equestrian arts of breeding and training horses as well as managing a team of jockeys. She had two monuments built in her honor- in a town that heralded male athleticism. Most of the athletes I spotlight may be from the last two centuries, but Kyniska goes to show women from any period of history could win Olympic events just like the men.

"Sparta." History.com. Accessed April 29, 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/sparta.

"Cynisca." Women from Prehistory. March 31, 2013. Accessed April 29, 2015. http://women-make-history.jimdo.com/2013/03/31/cynisca/.

"Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Cynisca." Brooklyn Museum. Accessed April 29, 2015. http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/cynisca.php.