The new Team USA uniforms for the Paris 2024 Olympics have sparked controversy. The men’s kit includes a red, white, and blue sleeveless top with tight blue shorts, while the women’s kit features a pink outfit that resembles a bathing suit. Pictures of the apparel on mannequins circulated on social media, and some fans expressed concern about the overexposure of female athletes’ private parts.
There were comments questioning the design choices, such as one asking Nike to fix the women’s kit and another questioning whether the outfit was intended for swimming events. Critics have also voiced their opinions, with one person arguing that women should not have to compete nearly naked, especially in track and field events. The sentiment was expressed that women’s kits should prioritize performance, both mentally and physically, and that if the outfit truly enhanced physical performance, men would also wear it.
Another perspective highlighted the costume-like nature of the uniform, attributing it to outdated patriarchal influences and expressing the desire for a more empowering and unselfconscious attire for female athletes. During a Nike event where the kit was unveiled, sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and hurdler Anna Cockrell modeled the outfits but chose to wear compression shorts instead. This choice emphasized the need for more practical and comfortable attire for female athletes.
