The records for strength, speed and jumping are clear. Men are about 50% stronger, 10% faster and jump 15-20% higher in the same weight class. A women's lifting record is about 70% of men. Men also have faster reaction times (220 milliseconds to 250 milliseconds). This is nothing women but there are clear measurements comparing men and women on a whole range of athletic performance. There was never any controversy when women had their own categories since about 1920 in the Olympics.

Women competed for the first time at the 1900 Games in Paris. Of a total of 997 athletes, 22 women competed in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf.

By 14 to 16, boys tend to surpass elite women in performance.

Men are about 50% stronger than women in powerlifting.