Nike has sparked controversy for its uncomfortable women's athletic uniforms Olympic Games 2024 | USA | Sportswear | Female | Fashion | Sports | VIU

Since time immemorial, various athletes from all over the world have been engaged in fierce battles against each other Gender difference In sports clothes. At the European Championships in Basel, German gymnasts ditched the traditional leotard for the first time in an ankle-length bodysuit. At the Tokyo Olympics, the Norwegian women's beach handball team was fined for refusing to wear the classic but uncomfortable bikini. At the last FIFA Women's World Cup, several teams decided not to wear regular shorts for 'menstrual justice'. And so, as the roster of athletes rebelled against uncomfortable and skimpy uniforms grew, the gender gap and gender gap in sportswear narrowed. However, Eternal Quarrel later reignited the controversy Nike The next United States women's track and field team will release a revealing uniform Olympic Games 2024.

The record of the years-long battle against gendered sports uniforms appears to be at risk again at this year's Paris Olympics. A few days ago, Nike USA introduced new uniforms for the men's and women's track and field teams. Controversy erupted due to one particular design: a tall female leotard that exposed too much of the private area. Immediately, the criticism of classifying it as sexual did not wait.

Women and sports fans alike have criticized the controversial piece he created NikeBut athletes from various disciplines, who have not hesitated to express their discomfort and rejection through social networks, consider it more sexist than functional.

Olympic long jumper Tara Davies-Woodall wrote.Hang on, my hoo ha is about to air”. Hurdler Queen Harrison Clay insisted it would have been better designed by the European Wax Center. Paralympic runner Jalene Robert commented.This mannequin stands still and shows everything… imagine in full flight”. Steeplechase runner Colleen Quigel told Reuters.Certainly not built for performance”. Former US runner Lauren Fleshman expressed her annoyance in a lengthy Instagram post where she said the new uniforms were inappropriate. “The amount of attention it takes for your pubes to wear something like that on the world stage when you're trying to freely push your limits without having to worry about every movement of your body…honestly a flaw I don't appreciate. This is not an elite tracksuit. It is an outfit created by patriarchal forces that no longer welcome or need to direct attention towards women's sports.“, he wrote.

The revealing outfit, which sparked a wave of criticism, was part of a collection presented at the Nike Air Innovation Summit in Paris, where 40 athletes were ambassadors of the designs, except for this particular unitard, which was shown on social networks by a mannequin wearing it. Next to its male version, the Citus Mac is much tamer.

El Comercio tried to reach a spokesperson Nike In Peru, but that's unlikely. However, through an official statement on its global web portal, the brand pointed out that this and other pieces that runners can use were made based on the athletes' opinions and inspired by the different symbols and different communities that represent each country. And sports. “Working directly with athletes at every stage of the design process, Nike Clothing designed to suit different body types and style preferences and injected real-time feedback throughout the product development cycle” said John Hoke, Nike's chief innovation officer, in the statement.

The line of defense was joined by a USA Track and Field (USATF) spokesperson, who revealed to CNN that the controversial leotard is only one option among the nearly 50 pieces that make up the collection. “Athlete preferences and choices were USATF's driving force in the planning process with Nike. USATF knows too Nike Athletes were consulted throughout the design process to ensure that all athletes were comfortable and that the uniforms were appropriate for their respective events.”, he said in a statement.

Freedom of Choice Vs. Sexual preferences: Confusion

Publication of this controversial piece Nike which caused many to describe him as Backlash in the race to eliminate the systemic sexism that has long characterized women's sportswear. This is part of the confusing opinions on the matter, because just as there are athletes (the majority) who view such uniforms as a tool of sexuality and control, there are experts who do not pay attention to this particular design. But some see the bigger picture, arguing that having the option to choose is important because classic bikinis are comfortable and functional for their modesty. For example, Katie Moon, an American pole vaulter, admitted that the mannequin leopard was involved and received a well-deserved response, but said freedom of choice was the most important thing.

“I love women defenders, but We have at least 20 different uniform combinations to compete with all the tops and bottoms we have. There is an option for men if we want. When you attack something as “sexist” (if that's our only choice, it is), even if it's well-intentioned, you're ultimately attacking our decision to be women. The thing is, we have the choice to choose what to wear. And if we feel better in a potato sack or a bathing suit at the competition, we should support autonomy.” he explained in a post on Instagram.

Thus, the freedom to choose in a sea of ​​options involving clothing that is considered gendered emerges as a new dilemma in women's sportswear. An area under excessive surveillance today for fear of undermining the war on sex. A good fair approach, because the speaker Nike While offering options beyond the controversial unitard (which is considered inappropriate for both athletes and normal women), the reality is that many athletes face fines and punishments for not following traditional dress codes when they enter the field, implying discomfort and little fraternity with what it means to be an athletic woman.