Nike wants labia exposed at Olympics

[gemini79]

Apr 12, 2024 22:35:19 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Apr 12, 2024 21:55:46 GMT -5 outnumbered said:

Is it possible that athletes are hesitant to criticize a huge potential sponsor such as Nike?

I'm sure this is a large part. Also, these are women who, like sonrisa said, have survived the gauntlet to even get here, so they've learned to deal with it. Not too long ago girls in hs were getting penalized for their short shorts even though that was the industry standard. But, they wanted to compete, so they wore what was standard and put up with the fallout.

I also find it strange that someone unknown to us is posting as an expert. Yes, this does occasionally happen, that a lurker comes out of the woodworks when it's of particular interest to them, but I want to know who are you and why are you here?

One of my friends is an elite runner, was an Olympic alternate, and she's rejected this. Do I now count as an adjacent expert like gemini is purporting to be? I'm pretty sure my previous male partners who were all oddly runners (I'm decidedly not!) wouldn't wear a front thong. Does that count now?

I'm posting in this thread bc as you can tell, I'm interested in the topic, I care about it and it's meanings.


If you feel like you're an expert in this area based on those experiences that you have had, then that's your belief.

If you are trying to say that..like..my knowledge about this topic is coming from a similar experience to what yours is or what you're describing?

It's not. We have different levels of experience, knowledge and I'd guess..just interest in this area. But respectfully it's also not for you to demand on an anonymous message board that anyone say "who they are and why they are here."

[nsl]

Apr 12, 2024 23:46:15 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

Apr 12, 2024 22:35:19 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'm sure this is a large part. Also, these are women who, like sonrisa said, have survived the gauntlet to even get here, so they've learned to deal with it. Not too long ago girls in hs were getting penalized for their short shorts even though that was the industry standard. But, they wanted to compete, so they wore what was standard and put up with the fallout.

I also find it strange that someone unknown to us is posting as an expert. Yes, this does occasionally happen, that a lurker comes out of the woodworks when it's of particular interest to them, but I want to know who are you and why are you here?

One of my friends is an elite runner, was an Olympic alternate, and she's rejected this. Do I now count as an adjacent expert like gemini is purporting to be? I'm pretty sure my previous male partners who were all oddly runners (I'm decidedly not!) wouldn't wear a front thong. Does that count now?

I'm posting in this thread bc as you can tell, I'm interested in the topic, I care about it and it's meanings.


If you feel like you're an expert in this area based on those experiences that you have had, then that's your belief.

If you are trying to say that..like..my knowledge about this topic is coming from a similar experience to what yours is or what you're describing?

It's not. We have different levels of experience, knowledge and I'd guess..just interest in this area. But respectfully it's also not for you to demand on an anonymous message board that anyone say "who they are and why they are here."

Okay, I’ll bite. The athlete quoted in the original article who has a huge problem with this design is the same one whose Instagram post you linked to supposedly prove that the cut isn’t unusual. She’s the one who’s saying that the cut isnt one she’s comfortable competing in because it’s not actually that close to the cut of the leotard-style uniform she chooses to compete in regularly. Is she not an expert on this topic? Why should people in this thread dismiss her insight over yours?

And if you want your expertise to be valued over an Olympic-level athlete’s you have to expect people are going to ask why they should value your opinion that highly. Many of us in this thread have been on these boards for a very long time. We’ve shared details about our backgrounds in these conversations because they’ve been relevant. I know whose word to take very seriously on a lot of topics here. I don’t know why I should trust yours above anyone else’s. That’s why. 

[basilosaurus]

We've had odd schwills before. People with almost no post history suddenly posting a lot, passionately. It's not unreasonable to find it curious.

[frlcb]

Apr 12, 2024 13:49:42 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

Apr 12, 2024 11:35:22 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

There ARE athletes reviewing it on X, instagram and tik tok. Quite a few have said they like it.

Well, I don't know if there's a way to determine how many like it vs how many don't, but there are plenty of athletes and coaches ripping it too.
But did no one look at that and have second thoughts?  Were they really thinking women would be pumped at the opportunity to wear something like that?  Even the swimmers wear less revealing clothing.  Maybe they were going with, "No press is bad press."

Swimming is completely different, because the tech suits they wear that cover more actually repel water, so because the suit does not absorb water as you swim there is less drag and less water weight slowing swimmers down. Tech suits also have few seams. But if you ever see the suits competitive swimmers wear in warmup/practice you will see very, very little coverage. (mom of a competitive year round swimmer)

[lilac05]

Apr 13, 2024 8:02:01 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Apr 12, 2024 13:49:42 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

Well, I don't know if there's a way to determine how many like it vs how many don't, but there are plenty of athletes and coaches ripping it too.
But did no one look at that and have second thoughts?  Were they really thinking women would be pumped at the opportunity to wear something like that?  Even the swimmers wear less revealing clothing.  Maybe they were going with, "No press is bad press."

Swimming is completely different, because the tech suits they wear that cover more actually repel water, so because the suit does not absorb water as you swim there is less drag and less water weight slowing swimmers down. Tech suits also have few seams. But if you ever see the suits competitive swimmers wear in warmup/practice you will see very, very little coverage. (mom of a competitive year round swimmer)

Agreed that swimming is different.

A better comparison might be gymnastics. Compare the leotards the women’s gymnasts wear vs this. Both sports benefit from unrestricted movement of the joints. The gymnasts aren’t wearing something so narrowly cut in the front.

I don’t have any issue with the brief style in general at all. Everyone has a choice in what they wear here, which is great. (Unlike women’s volleyball, at least in the past…not sure about now.) It’s the CUT of this brief that I think most people take issue with. Women should have the option of a brief-style cut that they feel confident will KEEP them covered as they compete.

And I also agree that a lot of athletes are either paid by Nike or would love to be paid by Nike (or another athletic apparel line) in the future. They have to watch what they say carefully, as they don’t want to be seen by marketing reps as difficult to work with or too opinionated. They likely don’t feel like their one voice will change anything now, but will potentially impact future revenue options for them. Future endorsements are obviously huge for athletes.

[erbear]

Apr 12, 2024 21:55:46 GMT -5 outnumbered said:

Apr 12, 2024 11:35:22 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

There ARE athletes reviewing it on X, instagram and tik tok. Quite a few have said they like it.

Is it possible that athletes are hesitant to criticize a huge potential sponsor such as Nike?

Ding Ding Ding. Read "Good for a Girl" by Lauren Fleshman.

[whattheheck]

Apr 13, 2024 10:33:15 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Apr 13, 2024 8:02:01 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Agreed that swimming is different.

A better comparison might be gymnastics. Compare the leotards the women’s gymnasts wear vs this. Both sports benefit from unrestricted movement of the joints. The gymnasts aren’t wearing something so narrowly cut in the front.

My understanding is that the leotards that the US Women's Gymnastic Team wears are custom fit to each individual's body.  Is there a reason that track and field athletes are not afforded the same level of customization?

[taratru]

gemini79 do you work for Nike or something? You are working awfully hard to defend what is being discussed by a large majority of the potential athletes who will wear it as a terrible design. Why?

[kath16]

Apr 13, 2024 14:47:02 GMT -5 whattheheck said:

Apr 13, 2024 10:33:15 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Agreed that swimming is different.

A better comparison might be gymnastics. Compare the leotards the women’s gymnasts wear vs this. Both sports benefit from unrestricted movement of the joints. The gymnasts aren’t wearing something so narrowly cut in the front.

My understanding is that the leotards that the US Women's Gymnastic Team wears are custom fit to each individual's body.  Is there a reason that track and field athletes are not afforded the same level of customization?

They likely will get fit for their specific gear after they make the team in each event

Track (like gymnastics) is an elite Olympic event so they’ll go try stuff on and get fitted accordingly

[neverfstop]

www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/skimpy-olympic-track-uniform-nike-criticized-women-athletes-rcna148015

“Nike designed the Paris 2024 track and field kits to offer athletes a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability,” Nike Chief Innovation Officers John Hoke said in a statement.

There are more than 25 style combos for female athletes, not including various layering options.

[lilac05]

I just went back to see if I could easily find the other options athletes will have. I found myself in the stupid comments section.

UnderArmour uarunning for the win with a post “We’re just here for the comments” [popcorn emoji] LOL

[wawa]

Apr 16, 2024 20:14:53 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/skimpy-olympic-track-uniform-nike-criticized-women-athletes-rcna148015

“Nike designed the Paris 2024 track and field kits to offer athletes a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability,” Nike Chief Innovation Officers John Hoke said in a statement.

There are more than 25 style combos for female athletes, not including various layering options.

So why in the world did they feature this one? I guess I'm curious if they released a bunch of similar images with different pairings and this media outlet chose to feature that particular one, or if that's the photo Nike provided to lead with. It smacks of either trying to stir up chatter because they knew it woudl raise eyebrows, or they thought it looked totally normal and it's just underlying misogyny leading people to chose those most exposed outfit for the "female" side of the photo because fuckign patriarchy.

This whole conversation has reminded me to schedule a wax though, so....yay?

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 17, 2024 7:51:49 GMT -5 wawa said:

Apr 16, 2024 20:14:53 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/skimpy-olympic-track-uniform-nike-criticized-women-athletes-rcna148015

“Nike designed the Paris 2024 track and field kits to offer athletes a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability,” Nike Chief Innovation Officers John Hoke said in a statement.

There are more than 25 style combos for female athletes, not including various layering options.

So why in the world did they feature this one? I guess I'm curious if they released a bunch of similar images with different pairings and this media outlet chose to feature that particular one, or if that's the photo Nike provided to lead with. It smacks of either trying to stir up chatter because they knew it woudl raise eyebrows, or they thought it looked totally normal and it's just underlying misogyny leading people to chose those most exposed outfit for the "female" side of the photo because fuckign patriarchy.

This whole conversation has reminded me to schedule a wax though, so....yay?

They featured this one because even in the year of our lord 2024, men still think women’s sports are for men.