Heraean Games

The Heraean Games was the first sanctioned and recorded women's athletic competition. It was held in the stadium at Olympia in honor of the goddess Hera. This was a competition where unmarried women were able to compete in foot races in order to win an Olympic olive branch garland, cow or ox meat from the animal sacrificed to Hera and even the right to dedicate statues inscribed with their names or painted portraits of themselves on the columns of Hera's Temple. The women wore chitons which were usually clothing worn by men doing heavy, physical work. Women were forbidden to compete or even view the Ancient Olympics under penalty of being thrown of the cliffs of Mount Typaion. Women were not encouraged to be athletes except for those that were raised in Sparta. Spartans believed that strong women would produce strong future warriors. The Heraean Games were started because of the increase in popularity of the Olympic games.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraean_Games and Pastimes The Context of Contemporary Leisure (textbook)