Stripping Down for Sport

Are female athlete’s uniforms for sport or spectacle?  

Fashion is not supposed to be one of the main talking points in the lead up to the 2024 Olympic games. However, recent criticism over Nike’s revealing uniform design for the USA 2024 women’s Olympic track and field teams, has posed the question: 

Are women athletes' uniforms inhibiting their abilities? 

Nike’s uniform designs for the field and track teams were posted on their Instagram in April. The mannequin sporting the female uniform was dressed in what looked like a high cut bathing suit. In comparison, the male mannequin wore a tank top and shorts. It appears that even the sports community is no exception to trying to control women. 

But Nike isn’t the only brand Olympians have issues with. New Zealand Olympic rower Jackie Kiddle tells Massive that she used to wear the brand 2XU. She says the restricted choice she had in uniforms due to sponsorship deals inhibited her ability to perform well on the water.   

Kiddle says, “Previous sponsors have not designed our race suits to fit the shapes of rowers.” She says that these row-suits are often too tight around the chest, stomach and sometimes legs. Kiddle recalls a moment when her row suit was so tight around her legs that she had to cut it with scissors so she could race without restriction. She will often stretch the top of her row suits over a chair to try and make them more comfortable.

Going into this year's Olympics, Rowing New Zealand changed to a rowing specific apparel brand sponsor, 776BC, that designs uniforms based on body shapes typical of rowers. However, Kiddle still finds these tight around the chest and stomach. Both 2XU and 77BBC have been contacted for a response, however, did not provide one.  

When it comes to women’s track uniforms, a Nike spokesperson claims they have offered female athletes briefs and shorts that can be worn over the unitards, according to The Guardian. 

However, US Steeplechaser Colleen Quigley says that even with the briefs or shorts, Nike should also offer the team custom tailoring. “Our bodies are all different and it seems silly to expect us to compete at the highest level of our sport without a properly fit uniform,” Quigley says to Reuters.  

American Long jump olympian, Tara Davis-Woodhall, left an iconic comment on an Instagram post calling out the Nike track uniforms. She says: “Wait my hoo haa is gonna be out.” 

Art by Luka Maresca

A Massey University study examined the issues surrounding female sport uniform designs. Its findings indicated that uniform designs can contribute to “increased female athlete anxiety, particularly around body image, visibility of menstrual blood and visibility of underwear while wearing their uniform”. 

On Facebook group Vic Deals, I ask women about their experiences regarding female sports uniform designs. The next morning, I wake up to over 50 messages, including one from a Massey University student.  

Grace* who plays for the Massey University competitively says that often the uniforms given to female athletes are too loose and spends most of her sports games worrying her shorts will fall down when she starts running.  

She has considered complaining to the university but worries about her concerns being shut down or disregarded.  

A Massey University spokesperson says their uniforms come from a reputable sports brand Paladin and “undertook a comprehensive design process which included input from students and staff into the design and style of the items”.  

“So far, we have had very positive feedback on the uniforms, with some students wanting to keep them or purchase items for themselves.” They have received some feedback about the “slightly looser fit”, saying they will look into this.  

Another Vic Deals responder, Teresa*, a former competitive gymnast, says that the uniforms she used to wear were “unbearably revealing” and used to make her “dread competing”. 

When her daughter began competitive gymnastics too at 7-years-old, Teresa was shocked to see that her daughter’s required uniform was a crop top and skintight speedo shorts. In comparison, the boys team wore mid-thigh length shorts and loose singlets. 

Teresa* says, “I questioned why there was a different uniform for boys and girls, because if the boy's performance wasn’t impacted by wearing looser, more covered clothes, why would the girls need tighter clothes with less coverage?” 

Teresa’s* daughter quit the sport at 14-years-old due to ongoing disordered eating after boys on the team started body-shaming and sexualising her in the uniform. Despite multiple complaints to the Gymnasium, no action was taken to educate or discipline the boys. 

It seems women face different standards to men when they enter the sporting world. This is something Kiddle believes can drive young women away from sport.  

Kiddle says, “I do think societal pressure to look a certain way makes young girls feel self-conscious in sports uniforms.” She says designing uniforms with this in mind must be important going forward.  

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be part of an Olympics where my abilities are inhibited from a pair of shorts and top. 

*Names have been changed.