Backlash grows to Nike’s “sexist” U.S. women’s Olympic uniform

Since revealing the U.S. Olympic track and field uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nike has come under intense criticism for the design of the female uniform in particular. While the men’s uniform is a tank top and tight shorts, the women’s is a leotard that sits particularly high on the hips, with very little fabric beneath.

When Citius magazine posted the uniforms on Instagram, U.S. long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall responded in a comment, “Wait my hoo haa is gonna be out”. Many shared her sentiments. Nike has since received scrutiny for the revealing uniforms, accused of being sexist. Many say that it is not designed with the athletes in mind, but rather the onlookers.

U.S national champion distance runner Lauren Fleshman took to Instagram to express her outrage at the uniforms. She posted a photo of the uniforms with text over the top of the photo that reads, “Patriarchy 2024″. This was her caption:

“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. Women’s kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it. This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports. I’m queer and I’m attracted to female bodies, but I don’t expect or enjoy seeing female athletes or male athletes put in a position to battle self-consciousness at their place of work. That is not part of the job description. I lived that life and know that excellence is born of unselfconsciousness, of freedom and embodiment of action and instinct. Stop making it harder for half the population @nike @teamusa @usatf.”

The topic is particularly sensitive considering the history of women’s sports and how hard female athletes have had to fight just for a little respect. Gendered sports uniforms has been a hot topic of debate for years. As recent as 2021, the Norweigan women’s beach handball team chose to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms during the European Beach Handball Championships and were slapped with a fine because of it. That led to player protests and eventually the governing body changed the rule.

Olympic rowing silver medalist and International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University in London, Ont. Angela Schneider said that with the growing popularity of women’s sports comes more female empowerment to finally stand up against the antiquated sexist ideas.

“Women athletes are becoming more empowered because they’re actually starting to get respected more for their sport,” Schneider said. “It’s allowing them to be able to stand up and give more pushback. Because before they didn’t have any choice. They didn’t have any funding. They haven’t had that opportunity.”

Nike’s defense of “sexist” track and field uniforms

Nike defended itself, saying that they consulted with athletes throughout the design process and noted that this particular uniform is just one option the athletes have to choose from. There are more than 25 style combinations for female athletes, not including layering options. The leotard that’s sparked outrage is not a requirement by any means - athletes will only wear them if they choose to.

“Nike designed the Paris 2024 track and field kits to offer athletes a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability,” Nike Chief Innovation Officers John Hoke said in a statement.

U.S. pole vaulter Katie Moon wrote on Instagram, acknowledging that the uniforms on the mannequin were concerning, but also noted that if a female athlete does choose to wear this leotard, they should not be criticized for doing so either.

“We DO have the men’s option available to us if we want it,” Moon wrote. “When you attack the buns and crop top saying something along the lines of it’s ‘sexist’ (which if that was our only choice, it would be), even if it’s with the best of intentions, you’re ultimately attacking our decision as women to wear it. And if you honestly think that on the most important days of our careers we’re choosing what we wear to appease the men watching over what we’re most comfortable and confident in, to execute to the best of our abilities, that’s pretty offensive. I personally like the buns because I want as little fabric clinging to me when I’m hot and sweaty (which I am at 99% of meets I compete in). The point is we DO have the choice of what to wear, and whether we feel the best in a potato sack or a bathing suit during competitions, we should support the autonomy.”

Gabby Thomas, U.S. track and field athlete and two-time Olympic medalist, said that she and the other athletes had an input in the design of the uniforms. She thought the leotard looked “shocking” on the mannequin, but mentioned that “once you actually put it on your body, it presents differently.”