The American Athletics Federation (USATF) recalled on Sunday that American athletes will have multiple choices of outfits at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11), after the controversy targeting one of the options deemed sexist by several athletes. “The American outfits revealed Thursday are only two choices among the multiple options offered to athletes, 50 unique pieces, for the Olympic Games,” writes the USATF in a press release sent to AFP.
American athletics uniforms, manufactured by industry juggernaut Nike, were unveiled with great fanfare Thursday in Paris. Women’s stockings with particularly tight fabric at the crotch level have sparked controversy in recent days, being considered sexist or impractical by several athletes or ex-athletes. “Professional athletes should be able to compete without constantly thinking about their pubic hair removal or the exposure of their private parts,” Lauren Fleshman, former American 5,000m champion, wrote on her social networks. This is not an elite athletic suit, it is an outfit designed by patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome in women’s sport.
The reigning American Olympic pole vault champion Katie Moon, a fan of this type of bottom, said she was “taken aback” by the jersey presented, but recalled that the athletes had “at least 20 different combinations with many tops and stockings available. We also have men’s outfits available. When you attack crop tops or tight bottoms as sexist, you are attacking our decision as women to wear them. If you think that our priority would be to choose our outfits to be noticed by men at the expense of comfort for competition, that’s what is quite offensive.
Sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, 100m world champion, wore a version of the US outfit with shorts during the presentation on Thursday. “USATF can say that Nike consulted the opinions of athletes during the process of creating the outfits to ensure that they were comfortable and suitable for the events,” adds the USATF. Nike was not immediately able to respond to AFP’s request.
