Which athlete became the first woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal at Paris 1900?

Charlotte Cooper became the first woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal at Paris 1900.

Cooper won the women’s singles tennis tournament, defeating France’s Hélène Prévost in the final. She also won the mixed doubles event with Reginald Doherty, making her one of the most successful tennis players at those Games.

Women’s events were introduced at Paris 1900, but the programme was much smaller than at modern Olympics. Women competed in sports including tennis, golf, sailing and croquet. The first woman to win any Olympic gold medal was Hélène de Pourtalès, who was part of a mixed crew in sailing; Cooper was the first female individual champion.

Cooper continued competing at the highest level after becoming deaf in her late teens. She won Wimbledon eight times, including a record-setting singles title in 1908.