Uniform or costume? Athletes sound off on revealing U.S. women’s Olympic track kit

“Everything is showing.” “A costume born of patriarchal forces.” “Concerning.” 

These are just some of the reactions from athletes as Nike unveiled its new Team USA track and field kit for women late last week. And even though the U.S. sportswear brand later clarified that the high-cut bodysuit currently raising eyebrows is just one of the options for athletes competing in this summer’s Olympic Games, the controversy has reignited longstanding criticisms of sexism in sporting uniforms.

It’s an ongoing problem in women’s sport, Angela Schneider, an Olympic silver medallist in rowing and the director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University in London, Ont., told CBC News.

“It’s not about athletic-wear that is designed to get the maximum and best performance for her specific sport. Instead, it’s designed to draw on the onlooker,” Schneider said.

“What a distraction,” she said of Nike’s bodysuit. “It’s ridiculous.”

On Thursday, images were made public of Nike’s U.S. women’s kit on a mannequin, showing a very high-cut bikini line and prompting backlash from several athletes that the uniforms are sexist.

“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,” U.S. national champion distance runner Lauren Fleshman wrote in an Instagram post Thursday.

“This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports.” 

Lululemon unveiled its Olympic and Paralympic gear for Team Canada Tuesday. Those uniforms will be worn during both the opening and closing ceremonies, at media appearances and in the athlete’s village.

When competing, Olympic athletes wear clothing made by the brand sponsoring their sport’s national federation.

Athletics Canada — the national sports governing body for track and field, para athletics, cross-country, and road, mountain and trail running — is sponsored by Nike and will also be outfitted by the company, Mathieu Gentès, Athletics Canada CEO, confirmed with CBC News in an email statement.

He noted that athletes are provided with a variety of clothing options each year…