Marie Marvingt

Marie Félicie Élisabeth Marvingt was a French athlete, mountaineer, aviator, and journalist. She was the first woman to climb many of the peaks in the French and Swiss Alps. Marvingt was a record-breaking balloonist, and during World War I she became the first female combat pilot. She won numerous prizes for her sporting achievements including those of swimming, cycling, mountain climbing, winter sports, ballooning, flying, riding, gymnastics, athletics, rifle shooting, and fencing.