Opinion — Nike’s Olympic kits are an emblem of sports sexism
The sporting giant has come under fire over its women’s Track and Field kits. The backlash is long overdue.
With the Paris Olympics just months away, major sporting brands are revealing their Olympic kits for the first time.
But Nike got more than it bargained for this week when it shared images of the Team USA Track and Field uniforms. Far from online hype, the launch triggered a swathe of criticism and debate around sexism in sport.
To understand the root of this controversy, let’s start with the kits in question. The men’s outfit includes a tank top and full-length bike shorts in the colours of the American flag. Just your run-of-the-mill Track and Field get-up.
The women’s version, however, is decidedly less…material. With a drastically high-cut crotch and tight fitting silhouette, female athletes will be wearing a skimpy singlet featuring tiny red and blue stripes. The result is a pink-toned swimsuit-style outfit.
Since the images went live, the internet has blown up with angry comments criticising the blatant disparity between Nike’s two designs.
