To think that female athletes could be in shorts rather than arse-cheek-revealing pants?

[Corksoles]

I've just watched several athletes with tan lines that suggest their usual and thus presumably preferred leg wear is short length. Why isn't that the uniform style for the Olympics? (Although shout out to Ethiopia - nice shorts!)

I can see the track athletes' (and could see the gymnasts') arse cheeks. I don't get it. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, not least as presumably a fair chunk will be on their periods. And if I was a rather brilliant 17 year old, on this huge global stage, I think I'd rather wear what I was used to.

Haven't seen one bloke's arse cheek.

YABU - let's see women's arses. Must be for sport and not because these decisions are taken by old men.

YANBU - more functional shorts.

Most of the boxers won't get a period

That really is not the definition of object.

Even for tennis, I don't understand why the women are in very short skirts! The men's shorts are longer! If women are given the option of longer skirts/dresses - fair enough, but it just seems like another way to use women as s*x symbols

@user1471538275 Jessica Ennis Hill couldn't change it at the time- she only spoke out after retiring so she didn't speak up and challenge as an athlete.

Let’s be honest, this is because of men, right? I mean the only reason I feel at all uncomfortable is because there are men out there watching specifically to get off on this. There are websites devoted to shots of them. But then I think about the girls in track & field preferring briefs to run in because they’re more comfortable, and I think, well why should they have to adjust what they want to wear because some men are pigs?

@NerrSnerr perhaps she should have

I thought it noticeable that many of the women had tan lines suggesting they didn't normally through choice wear things so short

@NerrSnerr I've just watched the video you posted with Jessica Ennis-Hill and she seems to be saying exactly the opposite - that you have to wear this kit, it's the requirement of the sport to perform at that level but the female athletes should be judged on their achievements instead of on what they're wearing. The video finishes with her saying that it's the judgemental comments that people make about women's bodies and women's kit that they don't make about the men's - that it's too tight, too short, etc - that are the problem.

@MysticalLibrarian If you lived your life trying to avoid all the things that some men (and women) get off on, then you wouldn't get out much.

The difference with Jessica E-H and Holly Bradshaw is that according to the article, "In pole vaulting, there is no sporting advantage for athletes who choose to wear crop top and knickers or tight shorts over a more modest outfit." So if you're not sacrificing performance, then yes it's outrageous to be forced to wear something you're not happy wearing.

Women can wear skirts to their ankles, or shorts in tennis if that's what they want.

This has been the case since at least the 1980s.

@Xiaoxiong but she also says that as a young athlete that she wore the cropped top and shorts even though she found it hugely uncomfortable because it is what everyone worn.

Worth saying that Sha'Carri does not wear running knickers much at all. She'll wear a speed suit with cycling shorts under and this morning wore an all in one with longer bottoms.

The smaller kit isn't about performance- tight fitting possibly (although Colin Jackson broke the world record in baggy shorts). It's about fashion and sponsorship. Of course fine if that's what you want to wear but athletes shouldn't have to battle like Holly did to get a kit they feel happy in.

Instead of frothing about something which doesn't concern you how about you speak to some athletes and ask what they think?

We've already had a lengthy thread about gymnastic costumes, and people actually involved in gymnastics still weren't enough to convince the busybodies that they were wrong in their assumptions.

This policing of what others wear is beyond boring.

This would be at least in part because they don't wear performance sport wear when they aren't training.

And they will often train indoors.

So they won't tan as much in areas that are covered more often.

No one here is saying the athletes views are to be ignored. No one is saying the athletes shouldn't be given options. No one is saying we shouldn't support the athletes' being empowered to dress their bodies in a way that they feel is best. In fact, I'm saying exactly the opposite.

Ennis-Hill hasn't spoken out against athletes wearing skimpy kit. Arguing that women should wear longer shorts because it would please OP or you sitting at home on their couch to see more modest outfits is absolutely not the same as advocating for athletes to have more control over their own bodies and competition wear.

I looked at the track athlete earlier thinking what amazing bodies they had. They've probably delayed their periods for performances issues. I didn't feel uncomfortable seeing them in what they choose to wear.

@AGoingConcern I don't think anyone should wear longer shorts unless they want to.

I think it's a shame that Jessica felt uncomfortable at the start of her career as she felt pressure to wear what everyone did, and Holly should not have had to battle to get kit she feels comfortable in.

As a teen I wore cropped top and knicker shorts to run. I felt comfortable in them. It should be an easy option for every single athlete to wear what they wish.

Well no because in case this has escaped you, men have cock and balls thrrefore running in briefs is not comfortable or practical for them.

What is this worry everyone has about other women's periods?

I see hundreds of women in gymwear, in white / tight / light leggings, in lovely delicate floaty summer dresses every day. In recent days, I see many in swimwear.

I do not shudder and avert my eyes for fear they may have their periods. I presume that they are aware of this possibility and managing the situation. The fact that we do not tend to see blood soaked athletes or protruding pads suggests this is indeed the case. Though if I did see a hint of a tampon string etc I would think well done that woman.

What on earth is this squeamishness?

Athletic wear is made to wick away sweat, to help women to be aerodynamic, to give freedom of movement. At the Olympics it is also to reflect a national image and in many cases relates to sponsorship or marketing opportunities. For all of these reasons, women's clothing will be well designed to avoid straining and leaking.

We haven't had Adidas do the GB athletics kit for a while. The women's steeplechase will show how much choice the athletes have as Aimee Pratt's kit of choice is always vest and shorts (sometimes baggy, sometimes knicker). I don't think any other of the current track female athletes usually wear vests for international (obvs some marathon runners do and I would say the throwers but we didn't accept any of their invites!)

Or they prefer to wear longer shorts

Heaven forbid they go against the grain

If ultra short shorts were performance enhancing the men would wear them

People speak such nonsense to excuse the sexualisation

Gosh. I hadn't seen this. The sort of kit option she was after seems extremely reasonable.

@Oftenaddled athletes themselves have been trying to talk about it more- about how it makes performance worse and the struggles with heavy periods and racing or spending hours infield on a field event. Eilish Mccolgan, Jazmin Sawyers etc have been trying to get more athletes to talk about it so they're less taboo.

This is exactly what I think.

We have even had “ object” rejected as a definition because they move.

Sexualisation of women in this way is demeaning. If it’s about the athletic ability that’s all we need to see.