Some are raising some hoopla over the possibility of seeing someone’s hoo-ha in the upcoming summer Olympics.
That’s due to the unveiling of the Nike’s Team USA track and field kit for women on Thursday ahead of Paris 2024.
The outfits, which feature a very high-cut pantyline, has been deemed unwearable, revealing and sexist by athletes, per Reuters.
“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,” former U.S. track and field athlete Lauren Fleshman wrote on Instagram, per CNN.
“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.
“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.”
Another athlete was more succinct in voicing her displeasure.
“Wait my hoo haa is gonna be out,” U.S. long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall posted on Instagram.
U.S. steeplechaser Colleen Quigley questioned whether athletes could perform in these uniforms.
“They are absolutely not made for performance,” Quigley said in a message to Reuters.
Although some wondered if any female athlete was consulted in developing these uniforms.
“Was ANY female athlete consulted in this team kit?!?” Britain’s Abigail Irozuru asked, per the Associated Press.
Nike, who made the uniforms, said the uniforms were designed to fit all body types.
“Working directly with athletes throughout every stage of the design process, Nike designed garments to ensure fit across a range of body types and style preferences, and infused real-time feedback throughout the entire product development cycle,” John Hoke, Nike chief innovation officer, said in a release.
A spokesperson for USA Track and Field (USATF) said the examples shown were two out of “50 unique pieces.”
“Athlete options and choices were the driving force for USATF in the planning process with Nike,” USATF said in a statement.
“USATF is also aware that Nike consulted with athletes throughout the design process to ensure that all athletes are comfortable and that the uniforms are well-suited for their respective events.”
One athlete came to Nike’s defense — Katie Moon, who is sponsored by Nike.
Moon, the defending Olympic champion in the pole vault, agreed that the outfit on the mannequin “was concerning, and warranted the response it received.”
However, these were other outfits from which they could choose.
“When you attack the buns and crop top saying something along the lines of it’s ‘sexist’ (which if that was our only choice, it would be), even if it’s with the best of intentions, you’re ultimately attacking our decision as women to wear it,” she said.
Quigley said Nike should offer athletes custom tailoring to ensure the kit fits.
“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,” she said.
Nike told Reuters tailors will be available for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The Olympics will take place in Paris from July 26 to Aug. 11.
