US Sports Brand Nike’s Olympic Apparel Faces Criticism of Sexism
Nike has faced criticism of sexism for its women's athletics uniforms for the summer Olympic Games. Athletes said the outfits were too revealing and sexist.
Nike, the world-renowned US-based sportswear brand, has unveiled its clothing collection for this year’s Summer Olympic Games, but female athletes say the collection is sexist and emphasizes vanity over functionality. The high-cut panty line in the women’s track and field set drew the reaction of athletes and sparked public debate.
What Do Athletes Say?
The high-cut panties worn by a mannequin in the women’s track and field kit, which was made public last Thursday, brought criticism that it emphasized a sexist visual rather than performance wear. US hurdler Colleen Quigley emphasized that the kit was “not made for performance” and that such a design does not serve the needs of athletes.
Sexism Controversy in Sportswear
Discussions about sexism in what women athletes should wear in competition are not new. Especially in disciplines such as beach volleyball and gymnastics, the pressure for women to wear more revealing clothing has been an ongoing issue for years. However, recent regulations aim to give athletes more say over their clothing.
For example, Germany’s women’s gymnastics team wore full-length bodysuits at the Tokyo Olympics in defiance of sexualization, while New Zealand Gymnastics updated its dress code to allow women to add shorts or leggings.
Nike’s Response and Athletes’ Choices
In response to criticism, Nike has responded to the Tokyo Olympics by offering a wider range of choices for athletes, including short unitards, whereas at the Tokyo Olympics they only offered shorts. Katie Moon, a pole vaulter supported by Nike, said that the options offered were sufficient and that her own preference was for briefs rather than shorts.
US middle distance runner Athing Mu and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson were among the athletes who introduced Nike’s new Olympic kits at the launch in Paris. Both athletes took to the podium in different style options: Mu wore briefs, while Richardson opted for a shorts version.
Nike’s Custom Tailoring Service
“We all have different bodies and it’s silly to expect us to compete at the highest level of our sport without a proper uniform,” Colleen Quigley said, emphasizing the need for Nike to make uniforms that fit athletes’ body sizes. For its part, Nike has announced that it will have special tailors on hand for this year’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, ensuring that every athlete’s outfit fits perfectly.
The result;
While Nike’s Olympic apparel this year is designed to support athletes’ performance, the aesthetic and styling choices presented have been subject to criticism of sexism. This dialog between athletes and designers illustrates the struggle to find a balance between functionality and aesthetics in sportswear. The solutions proposed by Nike and the preferences of athletes are among the important factors that will determine the future course of such debates.
