'My hoo haa is gonna be out': US Olympians slam Nike for skimpy women's track kit

[underpants]

Nike’s Team USA track and field kit for women is needlessly revealing and sexist, female athletes have said after the sportswear brand unveiled its outfits for this summer’s Olympic Games.



Lauren Fleshman, the US national champion in the 5000m in 2006 and 2010, shared even harsher criticism in an Instagram post, writing: “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.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/13/nike-olympic-track-and-field-uniforms-women-sexism


Nike notes options for track athletes amid uniform backlash

Nike said the U.S. women's track and field Olympians will have multiple uniform options available for this summer's Paris Games after some athletes bashed the kit as needlessly revealing and sexist.

Images made public Thursday of the women's kit on a mannequin, showing a very high-cut panty line, triggered criticism from several athletes for what they saw as a decision to prioritize skimpiness over function.
https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/39935035/nike-notes-options-track-athletes-amid-uniform-backlash

[SARose]

1. Sexist much?

Thanks Nike for baywatching our female athletes. 🤬

[underpants]

8. Really. Nike screwed up the new MLB baseball uniforms too

Smaller numbers, hard to read names, and see through pants. No one in any meeting said “HOLD ON!” In either of these horrible decisions.

She added: “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. ... Stop making it harder for half the population @nike @teamusa @usatf.”

[SARose]

15. I hate those new MLB uniforms too

Can we go hire Ralph Lauren again?😂

[TSExile]

40. Right???

Pretty please???

[CrispyQ]

2. At least they have other options, but seriously, they chose to display this style & were surprised at the backlash?

[underpants]

10. No kidding. Nike's been at this too long to screw up that bad

I heard this on the radio this week. Imagine having this forced into your preparation AND constantly being worried about it.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Yes Nike did it on purpose.

They know what they are doing in terms of sportswear for women.

[Freethinker65]

3. Surprised there is not a crotchless version

And is that a front zipper?

[SARose]

16. Haaaaaa

Y’all are on a role this morning. I am laughing so hard I can barely type

[Voltaire2]

4. WTAF?

Perhaps just go back to OG olympic dress codes.

(FYI nude.)

[Hugin]

6. Viewership would double. n/t

[Voltaire2]

9. See women's volleyball.

[underpants]

12. That's discussed in one of the articles.

They have their own choices and at least beach volleyball is born of swimsuits but still yeah.

[Voltaire2]

20. I thought the choice of uniforms only

happened after complaints surfaced about what they were being forced to wear?

And yeah at least there was some facade of logic to it.

[SoFlaBro]

44. I will have to inspect the situation then give my fucking assessment.

[Polybius]

21. Not a bad idea for beach volleyball!

[Hugin]

5. It's kinda like a mullet...

Church at the top, Saturday night down below.

Bikini waxes all around.

[edhopper]

7. Maybe appropriate

if the Olympics were in Brazil.
That's a joke. This is shameful.

[underpants]

11. Hurdlers and pole vaulters 😳

[Joinfortmill]

13. Ah, wanna put your kid in that and have the world see it? No? I didn't think so.

[underpants]

25. I said the exact same thing to my daughter

[Kid Berwyn]

14. Was Phil Knight friends with Jeffrey Epstein?

Just asking.

[maptap22]

17. Why can't both male and female versions be the same?

[Polybius]

22. I'd give them the option

Some men wouldn't want to wear the one on the right (there'd be penis slips), and some women wouldn't to wear the one on the left (left room for large breasts). In the end, we have different parts that fit into different outfits.

[Zeitghost]

38. They apparently have options

The athletes are all free to choose from up to 20 different combinations of various clothing items in which to compete.

But that doesn't generate social media outrage and successful click bait headlines.

[Silent3]

45. I wonder if there's a skimpier male option?

[underpants]

47. 😆😆😆

[jalan48]

18. The sexualization of women sells.

[NickB79]

19. It's a front thong

My God.

[underpants]

24. Good point.

[Polybius]

23. I'd give them a few options

If they want to wear it, awesome. If not, choose from a few others.

[Zeitghost]

39. They have options

Apparently quite a few. This is typical social media outrage over a single data point taken pout of context.

[Renew Deal]

27. It makes the outfit lighter and reduces air resistance.

I’m joking. It’s absurd but if it’s one of many options, then it’s not a big deal. If it’s the only option and they are forced to use it, then it’s ridiculous.

[tanyev]

28. One thing I appreciated about the show So You Think You Can Dance--

don’t know if it’s still true—is that they always had the girls in full coverage briefs or boyshorts. Some of those contestants are quite young and they don’t need to look like a Las Vegas showgirl onstage. They have freedom to move and exquisite dancing is still exquisite dancing.

Women Olympians are serious athletes exerting serious effort and they don’t need to look like Vegas showgirls, either.

[Lunabell]

29. It looks like vagina floss.

That's a few dozen camel toes waiting to happen.

[2naSalit]

34. They look painful...

To say the least. Good grief.

[Lunabell]

36. A yeast infection waiting to happen.

What makes any designer think this is appropriate or comfortable for a sporting even?

[2naSalit]

41. One who...

Does not have such body parts.

[moniss]

30. One of the Nike

versions perhaps had a "push-up, scoop neck" aspect.

[littlemissmartypants]

31. With that as the front view, I definitely don't want to see the rear.

Sexist much, Nike? Just [Don't] Do it!

[moniss]

32. Even before this

notice that when the men run they don't end up after the race trying to pull their uniform back over exposed butt cheeks but the women do.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. That's Ridiculous

Plus, women in track have been wearing separate tops & bottoms forever.
Why a singlet?
Now add in that revealing cut. Terrible idea.
The women who are pushing back have my total support.

[Retrograde]

37. I've been watching films of old Olympics

on MAX - 1912 and 1928 so far - and the women track and field competitors wear essentially the same outfits as the men. If they could do it back then...

BTW, the Nike so-called women's uniform seems to have unnecessary pink/magenta lines that direct the eyes towards the breasts. And why pink? What's wrong with good old red, white, and blue for all US competitors?

And don't get me starting on the ice skating and women's gymnastics uniforms. When I run the IOC there will be mandatory points deductions for every square foot of sequins (or every square inch if I'm in a bad mood), and obvious makeup will be banned. These are supposed to be athletic competitions, not beauty pageants.

[ProfessorGAC]

42. I'm Good With Your Plan...

...for gymnastics & skating.
I admit I'm not a big fan of sports that require me to wait until someone's opinion of how well the athlete has done.
But, I agree with you on the sequins. Also, there are lots of feathers in ice skating. Feathers?

[pandr32]

35. Why can't the one on the left be made for both men and women?

The pattern could vary, but the cut is for athletes and not oglers.

[Bettie]

43. They should make the

"men's" outfit in women's sizes, it is what I see most women running in during the summer, shorts and a top.

[Talitha]

46. "If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it."

THIS !!!!!!!