Paralympian Olivia Breen is told her sprint briefs are too short

[RaspberryRipplesofLard]

www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/19/paralympian-olivia-breen-dismayed-after-being-told-sprint-briefs-too-short

I’m in two minds about this story. Obviously my immediate reaction is that officials can F off, commenting on a female athlete’s clothing. Would they do the same to a male athlete?

My second thought, on looking at the photo, is that her bum is barely covered and from the back you can quite likely see a lot of bum cheek (for lack of a better term). So why are female athletes required to expose so much more of themselves than their male counterparts who wear knee length shorts?

Other than Tom Daley’s micro trunks, I’m struggling to think of any event where the men are as exposed as the women. It can’t be for athletic advantage or you can guarantee the men would be doing it to. So why? Is this a feminist issue?

Oh and on a separate note, Olivia Breen is an outstanding athlete and see the irony in starting a thread about her shorts rather than her talent. Olivia - if you see this, you are amazing.

This sounds like another case of women being blamed for causing lurid thoughts to males who can’t adjust to their own self control.

@StarlightLady

This sounds like another case of women being blamed for causing lurid thoughts to males who can’t adjust to their own self control.

My EXACT thoughts.

Don't like it? Don't watch.

I don't particularly follow athletics so not sure how standard these are compared to other women....but you can tell from her tan lines she normally wears longer shorts.

Paula Radcliffe always wore fairly "knicker style" shorts and having just googled for images of her hers do appear to be cut differently at the back and although still a knicker style they look like they cover more of her bum cheeks up.

Guess it depends what the rules say (if anything). Otherwise it should be personal choice but I'd be worried about flashing something by accident when jumping wearing those!

Paula Radcliffe has a completely different figure to Olivia Breen (and other sprinters/ long jumpers) so knicker shorts will fit them differently.

There are no rules about actual length of shorts but in the England Athletics rule book it has rule 153 5.1 "athletes must wear clothing.....designed and worn so as not to be objectionable" so is very subjective.

Most athletes train in longer shorts and race in knicker shorts (but not all) but in this hot weather I have seen a number of athletes posting on Instagram in knicker shorts.

Governing bodies, coaches and sponsors do not dictate what athletes compete in as long as it's race kit. Most wear cropped tops and knicker shorts in the running events but all in ones seem to be in fashion this season too (I saw Olivia Breen wear one a few weeks back and Jazmin Sawyers seems to love them). Jazmin is a long jumper and mostly wears knicker shorts (or all in ones with knicker short bottom) and she is very outspoken, intelligent and appears to know her own mind and clearly wears the kit she wants to.

I'm not sure if these are the ones.

Sportswear is reflecting choices in wider society.

I was just pondering today, with the recent hot weather.
Women tend to wear much shorter shorts, showing much more thigh.
Men wear longer ones, just above the knee.
I'm not sure why this is the case.
I'm talking mostly people in their 20s and 30s.
Men get ridiculed for wearing short shorts.

@StarlightLady

This sounds like another case of women being blamed for causing lurid thoughts to males who can’t adjust to their own self control.

Trouble is it was a woman who complained.

I suspect you'd find officials of either sex don't really care provided the clothes are within guidelines. Unless its a uniform kit then it's up to the athlete what they wear. The idea often expressed that all men are pervs unable to control themselves is sad as mostly the officials are just there to help in a sport they love.

Women tend to wear much shorter shorts, showing much more thigh.
Men wear longer ones, just above the knee.
I'm not sure why this is the case.

Same as any other area in life, its just fashion. No one will stop you wearing longer shorts if you want.

I suspect you'd find officials of either sex don't really care provided the clothes are within guidelines

That's the problem with these rules though- they are subjective. The rule is "athletes must wear clothing.....designed and worn so as not to be objectionable". What Livy's wearing are standard competition shorts, worn by many athletes this season (as they're this season's Adidas race kit for sponsored athletes). It's not fair that some athletes get singles out and others don't.

@RaspberryRipplesofLard

So why are female athletes required to expose so much more of themselves*

They're obviously not required to show so much flesh or the officials wouldn't have asked her to rethink what she was wearing. I mean women can wear pants, shorts, even full body suits - it's their choice and no one is telling them what to wear. Only that what they wear must be decent.

To be fair, there's a lot of arsecheek hanging out there. As a pp says, they're at least a size too small.

I mentioned a Spanish long jumper upthread. I looked her up and she is called Fatima Diame. Practically every picture of her online is taken from the back! I can imagine Olivia Breen saying "well what about herrrrr?"

Some knickers on the Ann Summers website show less arse cheek.

Where do you draw the (panty) line?

You draw the line with regulatory guidance, which says that "athletes must wear clothing.....designed and worn so as not to be objectionable".

The problem is that women and their clothing are always much more scrutinised than men and theirs, so the potential for 'objection' is much greater.

Olivia is an athlete. She's wearing athletic kit.

That's it really.

I have a problem with female athletes having to wear skimpy outfits compared to the men, but when it’s her own choice, I’m struggling to see the problem. I think these photos are from 2012

@GreatBigBird in athletics they don't have to wear skimpy clothes it's a choice.

This is what Holly Bradshaw will be wearing at the Olympics. You'll see most of the other pole vaulters choosing to wear cropped tops and knicker shorts.

Before the Olympics they go to 'kitting out' and they choose whether to wear vests, knicker shorts, long or short cycling shorts, baggy shorts or all in ones. It's the same with sponsors, they have the design on vests, all in ones, cropped tops and different length/ styles of shorts and you choose.

During the actual heptathlon in 2012 Jess wore knicker shorts in some events and longer shorts in others

[quote NerrSnerr]@GreatBigBird in athletics they don't have to wear skimpy clothes it's a choice.

This is what Holly Bradshaw will be wearing at the Olympics. You'll see most of the other pole vaulters choosing to wear cropped tops and knicker shorts.

Before the Olympics they go to 'kitting out' and they choose whether to wear vests, knicker shorts, long or short cycling shorts, baggy shorts or all in ones. It's the same with sponsors, they have the design on vests, all in ones, cropped tops and different length/ styles of shorts and you choose. [/quote]
And many, many track and field athletes choose to wear the skimpy outfits (not all).

I suppose my point is that the skimpy briefs are there for the wearing in official costume line ups, so I don’t understand why this one athlete is facing criticism.

Yes, because she's an athlete and she knows what sportswear is best for her in different events.

@GreatBigBird I completely agree. It's the athletes choice. I managed to watch a few of the races at the EA champs and there were plenty of similar shorts like there always are.

@NerrSnerr

During the actual heptathlon in 2012 Jess wore knicker shorts in some events and longer shorts in others

And in other events, she didn’t 🤷‍♀️

My point is that it should be the athletes choice, but where this athlete has chosen to wear skimpy briefs, she’s not alone. I don’t understand the complaint against her.

I don’t understand why athletes choose to wear smaller (more uncomfortable looking) briefs instead of shorts, but if I looked like them, maybe I would.

@GreatBigBird that's exactly my point! She chose what shorts she was wearing. I must have misunderstood your post because you said you have a problem with female athletes having to wear skimpy shorts and shared the picture of Jess so I was just saying that she didn't have to!

I'm only focusing on this particular athlete because I could remember her name to Google! There are other examples out there (to back up short wearing or skimpiness).

I don’t understand why the Paralympian has faced criticism when others haven’t.

[quote NerrSnerr]@GreatBigBird that's exactly my point! She chose what shorts she was wearing. I must have misunderstood your post because you said you have a problem with female athletes having to wear skimpy shorts and shared the picture of Jess so I was just saying that she didn't have to! [/quote]
Aha! That’s good!