ATLANTA — Nike is facing criticism from some Olympic athletes for the design of the new women's team outfits.
The athleticwear company showcased images of the outfits last week, according to CNN.
One outfit in particular, a leotard with a high-cut bikini line, drew the ire of many on social media.
Below are just some of the reactions:
'Costume born of patriarchal forces,' says track and field athlete Lauren Fleshman
“Professional athletes should be able to compete without dedicating brain space to constant pube vigilance or the mental gymnastics of having every vulnerable piece of your body on display,” Fleshman wrote in an Instagram post.
She added that "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. This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports.”
Fleshman continued the criticism on X, formally known as Twitter, by posting "Citius, altius, fortius, sexiest," a play on words with the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger."
Champion pole vaulter Katie Moon calls them 'concerning'
“If you honestly think that on the most important days of our careers, we’re choosing what we wear to appease the men watching over what we’re most comfortable and confident in, to execute to the best of our abilities, that’s pretty offensive,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.
What Nike is saying
According to CNN, the company released a press release last week stating that all its designs were produced in partnership with athletes’ needs.
“Working directly with athletes throughout every stage of the design process, Nike designed garments to ensure fit across a range of body types and style preferences and infused real-time feedback throughout the entire product development cycle,” John Hoke, Nike's Chief Innovation Officer, said in the release.
CNN also noted that a spokesperson for USA Track and Field said the outfits in the launch were just two of the many options available. In total, the spokesperson said “50 unique pieces" were included.
CNN mentioned the organization, adding, “USATF is also aware that Nike consulted with athletes throughout the design process to ensure that all athletes are comfortable and that the uniforms are well-suited for their respective events."
