Elite women athletes called 'fat' by senior UK Athletics officials

I wonder whether Chris Hoy gets the same remarks from British coaches...

She's got a perfect physique, I look at her and want to exercise.

If there was one body in the world I would love to swop into, it would be Jess Ennis. She is all round amazing at what she does, and stonkingly gorgeous to boot.

I think that official is a misogynistic fart who should be ashamed of themselves.

go Jessica!!

I'm not sure that this is simply a female problem. I suspect there are a lot of body image problems in sports. IMO it is a fairly widespread sports issue. There can be a lot of pressure to look the part. The problem is that when someone says 'I think I need to lose a few kgs/put on a bit more muscle' everyone around them will offer suggestions on how to do it, nobody will say 'no, you dont need to'.

there is no fat and so muscular

BMI is totally useless in this case as she doesn't have an once of fat on her - if you do you don't get to see a six pack - and hers is showing, which is incredibly hard for a woman.

Never underestimate the stupidity of some people and in this case it is a stupid remark from an ignorant person who has no idea of the damage his remark can make

The attitude of many men towards successful women in sport was demonstrated to me by the barrage of hatred directed at Paula Radcliffe when she was at her best and GASP....went to the loo by the side of the road. Would there really have been that much kerfuffle if she had been a man? Er...no. But as a girlie, she was expected to find a portaloo and give up her lead.

People have weird attitudes to women's sport in general, as witness the fact that 9 times out of ten a newspaper article on women's olympic sports will be illustrated with a picture of the beach volleyball or the synchronised swimming teams. Just to give readers the heads-up that women in sport is a bit silly really. And if women are actually good enough at a serious sport (ie. one that men do too) to challenge that viewpoint, then we can always criticise their weight or bodyshape. Cos, y'know, it's not okay to have any body fat (you might look like a woman) or breasts (ditto) or too much muscle (you might look like a bloke).

My oldest dd does competitive sport at national level, and some of the stupid comments you get from well-meaning acquaintances and relatives just make steam come out of my ears ("oh, she'll have to be careful she doesn't get too muscly"; "are they all really hefty?"; "Wow, has she got really enormous muscles?").

There just aren't enough for the attitudes that come crawling out of the woodwork when people are confronted with the notion of a woman or girl being good at something that involves strength and speed.

On that basis (the stats posted by ArielTPM above) she has a BMI within normal range anyway, surely? Weight Watchers would give you a range of around 7 and a half to 9 and a half stone for a similar weight. And the muscle would account for her being nearer the top end than the bottom. Who do these people think they are? (And any bets on how much excess weight they're carrying)?

Jess is 5 ft 4 and 9 stone which is heavier than I am at 5 ft 7. However she is a toned, muscular athlete in superb condition, whereas I am not. Absolutely ridiculous, depressing comments.

loads of super atheletes have BMI over 25 as muscle is dense and heavy also depends on sport, marathon runners tend to be much leaner than 100m sprinters and they are leaner than rugby players / disco throwers

BMI is not the best indicator of health and certainly not for atheletes

I think words have been twisted here. The 'official' actually said she was carrying too much weight, not that she was fat. This is still a fucking appalling statement to make, as muscle, necessary for Jess' and Louise's chosen sport, is heavier than fat. They need muscle for the 'power' disciplines, like the sprint, javelin and discus.

Having said that, Jess Ennis is the best all round athlete in the world.

I think that just means all the other British competitors are fatter, that makes perfect sense .

I cannot fathom these comments. I would expect any athlete, male or female, to have their weight monitored as part of their fitness regime along with BMI, blood pressure and 700 other things. There are different body shapes that work better for different sports (which is why I think gymnasts over the age of about 12 find it hard to compete with the pre-pubescent, no-hips brigade?). However, the comments (unless misreported) don't seem to have been concerned that Ennis' weight was sub-optimal for her sport, just that she had once been observed eating a pie, or something equally fatuous.

It's on a par with 'the linesman doesn't know the offside rule' gaff, and the coaches should be treated accordingly.

Those types of comments are exactly why a young Hollie Avil (triathlete) developed an eating disorder. It is wrong and coaches should know better.

they certainly dont look fat to me !