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Nike was tapped to design the outfits that members of Team U.S.A. will rock at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but the company found itself dealing with a minor controversy after unveiling some of the duds it whipped up for the women’s track and field team.
It goes without saying that the clothing athletes rock while competing at the Olympics should be the textbook definition of “function over fashion,” and the companies tasked with providing those uniforms pour a ton of time, effort, and money into developing them.
That includes Nike, which was obviously hoping to generate some buzz ahead of the 2024 Olympics with the showcase it held in Paris ahead of the international competition that’s set to kick off in the city at the end of July.
However, it ultimately attracted some attention it probably wished it could have avoided courtesy of a mannequin used to model a leotard constructed with America’s women’s track and field team in mind, which features a crotch design that is anything but modest.
Nike—which has already attracted plenty of criticism over the past couple of months thanks to its role in the uniforms that have drawn the ire of MLB players and fans alike—subsequently found itself on the receiving end of a number of rebukes from former and current track and field athletes who voiced their concerns in the comments.
That includes prospective Olympic long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, who bluntly stated “wait my hoo haa is gonna be out, “as well as 2016 steeplechase competitor Colleen Quigley, who said, “I mean I still wanna make the team but…. 😢.”
The most comprehensive rebuke came courtesy of retired distance runner Lauren Fleshman, who hopped on Instagram to pen a lengthy post she kicked off by saying “I’m sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team who would enthusiastically support this kit” before adding “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.”
However, as The New York Times notes, the backlash seems to be somewhat overblown.
John Hoke, the chief innovation officer for Nike, noted athletes will be able to choose from “nearly 50 unique pieces across men’s and women’s and a dozen competition styles fine-tuned for specific events,” as track and field competitors will also be able to opt for “compression shorts, a crop top or tank and a bodysuit with shorts” if they’re not vibing with the piece that sparked the miniature firestorm.