‘Body on display’: U.S. Olympians debate skimpy women’s uniform
Nike unveiled its designs for the new Team USA track and field uniforms for the Paris Summer Olympics and some current and former athletes are not happy, to say the least.
Critics slammed the women’s kit as being sexist and needlessly revealing, while others defended it and pointed out that women athletes can choose from a number of different uniform options, which include shorts.
The main point of contention is with the women’s one-piece speed suit, a piece of track and field apparel that looks similar to a leotard. Images of the speed suit on a mannequin were posted to social media on Thursday, showing a very high-cut pantyline. Some athletes were concerned that the crotch area of the garment would not adequately cover their genitals.
“Wait my hoo haa is gonna be out,” joked Tara Davis-Woodhall, an American long jump Olympian and world champion, in response to an image of the uniform posted by Citius Magazine.
A post shared by CITIUS MAG | Running + Track and Field News (@citiusmag)
U.S. steeplechaser Colleen Quigley said the women’s uniforms “are absolutely not made for performance,” in a message to Reuters.
The fiercest public critic of the women’s kit, however, has been Lauren Fleshman, a former U.S. national champion in distance running.
In an Instagram post, Fleshman called the uniform a “costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports.”
“I’m sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team who would enthusiastically support this kit. This is for Olympic Track and Field. Professional athletes should be able to compete without dedicating brain space to constant pube vigilance or the mental gymnastics of having every vulnerable piece of your body on display,” she wrote.
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