Peggy Abbott

American socialite and golfer

Also known as: Margaret Abbott

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July 16, 2026

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Margaret "Peggy" Abbott was an American socialite and golfer who, unbeknownst to her at the time, became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Living in Paris from 1899 to 1902, she studied art and enjoyed high society while also playing golf. Abbott had a talent for the sport, having won local competitions in Chicago. In 1900, she entered an amateur golf tournament in Paris, which was part of the Olympic Games. She won the event with a score of 47, receiving a porcelain bowl as a prize. Abbott was unaware of her Olympic victory until decades later, when her achievement was researched and publicized.1

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- Olympic Games
  Paris, France, 1900
  …of Great Britain, and golfer Margaret Abbott of the United States could all lay claim to that honor.
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  …of Great Britain, and golfer Margaret Abbott of the United States could all lay claim to that honor.
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Margaret Abbott
A Study Break
A wealthy young socialite, Margaret (“Peggy”) Abbott spent the years 1899 to 1902 living in Paris with her mother, the novelist Mary Abbott. There the younger Abbott studied art, took in the sights, and enjoyed high-society life.
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A wealthy young socialite, Margaret (“Peggy”) Abbott spent the years 1899 to 1902 living in Paris with her mother, the novelist Mary Abbott. There the younger Abbott studied art, took in the sights, and enjoyed high-society life.
Read More