In the moments before she fired off the Instagram comment heard around the world, Tara Davis-Woodhall could hardly believe her eyes.
The American long jumper and world silver medalist had just seen a photograph of one of Nikeâs Team USA uniforms for this summerâs Games, a high-cut leotard barely covering the bikini line that was unveiled at a launch event in Paris last week. The running publication Citius Mag had posted an image of the slinky uniform on a female mannequin alongside a male one-piece kit with longer legs.
As the side-by-side comparison prompted an online furore over sexism in elite sport, Davis-Woodhall couldnât help but enter the fray.
âWait my hoo haa is gonna be out,â she commented, joining a chorus of athletes who hammered the companyâs apparent decision to prioritize skimpiness over function. In response, Nike said female runners at the Games will not be limited to the high-cut leotard and that the new line offers nearly 50 styles to choose from, including shorts.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Team USA media summit in midtown Manhattan, Davis-Woodhall was one of several US Olympians who attributed the backlash to the photograph.
âIt was the picture that did no justice,â the Texas native said. âI saw one [of the uniforms] today. Theyâre beautiful. Theyâre not like the picture. The cut does look a little bit different on that mannequin. They just should have had a second look with someone to choose that photo to post.â
Gabby Thomas, the Atlanta-born sprinter who took 200m bronze and 4x100m silver in Tokyo, was âinitially shocked like everybody elseâ after seeing the uniform on the mannequin that quickly went viral.
But Thomas said that she felt more comfortable after seeing US pole vaulter Katie Moonâs impassioned defense on social media, which stated that criticism ultimately attacks the athletes who may decide to wear it. âThe point is we DO have the choice of what to wear, and whether we feel the best in a potato sack or a bathing suit during competitions, we should support the autonomy,â the Nike-sponsored Moon wrote.
âI love competing in the brief,â Thomas said on Tuesday. âI think I love wearing as little clothes as possible just because youâre sweaty, youâre being really active and moving, so I love that we have the option to wear that, but we also have the option to wear any uniform we want. We could wear the menâs uniform if we really wanted to. So Iâm comfortable with what they put out there. The initial shock was warranted, but I think no one has anything to worry about.â
Nike issued a statement quoting executive John Hoke as saying the company worked âdirectly with athletes throughout every stage of the design processâ, a claim Thomas vouched for.
âI remember they had a little area where athletes could try things on and check it out, give their feedback,â Thomas said. âAthletes were definitely consulted on the making of the uniform. Thatâs why I think everyone was a little shocked when they saw the photo because athletes wouldnât have signed off on how that looked, but it doesnât look like that in person.â
Fiona OâKeeffe, who booked her ticket to Paris in February when she smashed the womenâs US Olympic marathon trials record in her debut at the distance, said that sheâs unconcerned about the uniforms despite not having seen them in person yet.
âI believe team processing for the marathon happens at the US trials as well because weâre considered part of track and field,â she said on Tuesday. âI havenât tried it on yet, but Iâm sure there are enough options where there will be something that works.â
Davis-Woodward agreed: âAll womenâs bodies are different,â she said. âIâd say the same thing for men. Letâs make the uniforms for the people [who are wearing them], instead of for the views.â