Charlotte Cooper

1870 – 1966

Thank you for your interest in the Olympics.

I was the first woman to win an Olympic title.

That happened in the Games of the 2nd Olympiad, held in Paris.

Women were allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time.

I entered the women’s tennis competition.

It was a great event, with people from many countries.

The 1900 World Fair and International Exposition were also on.

There was a lot to do and see, and I enjoyed myself.

It was more like a holiday.

There was time to go shopping and visit the sights.

Sailing down the River Seine was a special attraction.

Seeing the great Eiffel Tower created a wonderful memory.

Aged 30, at the time, I was in good form.

I had won the Wimbledon Tennis Championship five times.

During the 1900 Olympics, I had the good fortune to win twice.

First, I won the Ladies’ Singles.

Then, I won the mixed doubles title, with Reginald Doherty.

Both gave me a sense of achievement, but I did not receive a medal.

They were not awarded until 1904.

There were some unusual competitions.

These included ballooning, cricket, croquet and motor-cycle racing.

I made many friends at the Olympics and followed its progress.

After my marriage, I continued to play tennis, until I was over 50.

I followed the Olympic competitions on the radio and then the TV.

It was a pleasure to watch the younger generations of competitors.

Memories of my involvement, in 1900, flooded back.

At that time, only a few people competed.

Over the years, the Olympics became a world event.

In doing so, it enabled people of different creeds and colours to meet.

That, in my view, is the main purpose of the Olympics.

If there had been a competition of longevity, I might have won a medal.

I lived till 1966, when I was 96 years of age.