USA Track and Field (USATF) has clarified that there are uniform options for women competing in the Paris Olympics after several female track and field athletes slammed the skimpy togs Nike presented for this summer's competitions.
Women railed against the extremely high-cut briefs that Team USA's official clothier revealed on Thursday. Many pointed to the double standard between the women's tight and revealing briefs and the men's mid-thigh compression shorts.
"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," retired American track champion Lauren Fleshman wrote on Instagram.
"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."
Following the social media backlash, USATF clarified that the high-cut briefs were just one of a number of uniform options available for female athletes. Women will be able to wear briefs or uniform shorts — and a tailor will be available for modifications all athletes in Paris.
"Athlete options and choices were the driving force for USATF in the planning process with Nike," the organization told Reuters.
The controversy over women's track uniforms is the latest in an ongoing discussion about the sexualization of female athletes. Across several sports — from gymnastics to soccer —women have complained that their uniforms are designed to show off their bodies rather than with competition in mind.
"They are absolutely not made for performance," American steeplechaser Colleen Quigley said of the track uniforms, Reuters reported.
