Here’s Why A Nike Women’s Olympic Uniform Reveal Prompted Claims Of Sexism, Criticism From Athletes

 

Sha'Carri Richardson modeled the shorts version of the new Team USA track and field uniform at the Nike Air Innovation Summit in Paris on April 11, 2024

The uniforms designed by Nike for the USA women’s Olympic track and field team have been met with harsh criticism from current and former athletes alleging an unnecessarily skimp design and sexist undertones that have drawn the ire of women across the world, including those on competing Olympic teams.

Nike on Thursday offered a sneak peak of the track and field unitards at an event in Paris—the host city of the 2024 summer olympics—that featured a men's uniform of a compression tank-top and mid-thigh shorts and a woman's bodysuit that was cut notably high on either leg.

The unitards were immediately slammed for their revealing down-there cut and looking like they would require “some complicated intimate grooming,” as the New York Times put it.

Olympic hurdler Queen Harrison Claye suggested the European Wax Center should sponsor Team USA this Olympic season, and Femita Ayanbeku, a two-time Team USA Paralympian, commented on Instagram, "This is clearly a joke."

Abigail Irozuru, a long jumper from England, shared a photo with the comment: "Was ANY female athlete consulted in this team kit?!?” Sha’Carri Richardson, two-time World Championship gold medal sprinter, modeled the fashion at the event but wore the compression shorts version of the outfit.

Nike did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment but John Hoke, the chief innovation officer for Nike, told the Times the two uniforms displayed Thursday were just one of several options that will be available for athletes.

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“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,” multi-time U.S. Championship runner Lauren Fleshman posted to Instagram.

CONTRA

Katie Moon, an Olympic gold medalist in pole vaulting, tweeted the uniform wasn't as revealing on her body as she expected. "I tried on the same style today and didn't feel worried about..things..popping out," she posted. "I think it's just the mannequin."

KEY BACKGROUND

The conversation around uniforms for women's athletes has been picking up since 2021, when the Norwegian national women’s beach handball team rebelled against the regulation bikini bottoms they were required to wear by showing up to compete in thigh-length shorts. They were fined $1,700 by the European Handball Association and launched a global conversation about why women often compete in bikinis or tight-fitting spandex while men, competing in the same events, are offered more modest options. The next week, Germany’s gymnastics team wore ankle-length unitards instead of the usual legless leotards for Olympic qualifiers and women's soccer teams last year stopped wearing white shorts at the World Cup as a commentary on period anxiety among female athletes.