Nike is standing by its design of uniforms for the women's track and field team representing the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite facing criticism from some female athletes and reigniting discussions on sexism in sports.
The uniforms, revealed by Nike at a special event in Paris and initially shared by digital media outlet Citius Mag, feature a high-cut leg design that barely conceals the groin area of the mannequin on which they are displayed. In comparison, the male version of the uniform offers significantly more coverage.
Responding to Citius Mag's post, steeplechase competitor and Olympian Colleen Quigley commented, "I mean I still wanna make the team but…." Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, who also competes in track and field, added, "I'm someone's mom, I can't be exposing myself in such ways."
Paralympian and track and field athlete Jaleen Roberts further remarked, "This mannequin is standing still and everything's showing...imagine mid-flight."
Nike defended the look, saying it had solicited input from Olympic athletes in designing its lineup of uniforms for both the men's and women's teams headed to Paris this summer. For the track and field kits, Nike Chief Innovation Officer John Hoke said in a statement that the company offers athletes "a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability."
Male and female track and field athletes have a dozen competition styles to chose from, Nike added, explaining that "athletes can choose outfits that match their style and personal preference without sacrificing comfort during the games in Paris." The company also said it will offer tailoring options.
USA Track and Field said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch that it has worked with Nike to ensure that competitors had uniform options.
"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," the organization said, adding that the unitard that has drawn fire is just one option athletes can choose from.
Nike also recently made waves for another uniform design. Its new Major League Baseball uniforms, which the company said is made from a "breathable, lightweight, high-performance fabric," are transparent enough that the jerseys' tags are visible when tucked into the pants' waistbands. And gray-colored uniforms, made from the same fabric, don't match the pants when they become soaked with sweat.
According to sources at The Athletic, Nike is currently experimenting with various fabrics in order to address the problem of sweat stains on MLB uniforms. It remains uncertain whether the updated uniforms will be rolled out during the current season.
