Amid criticism of the Nike’s women’s track and field attire, Anna Geary said she wouldn’t even wear the uniform “on the beach”.
Nike’s new 2024 Paris Olympic track and field uniforms for women have drawn criticism from athletes for being too small and revealing.
While the company said it was designed with athletes in mind, some have said the uniforms would make it difficult to concentrate on a race when “every vulnerable piece of your body is on display”.
Former Cork camogie captain Anna Geary said the uniform “baffles” her.
“I wouldn't even feel comfortable wearing what they're wearing on the beach,” she told The Anton Savage Show.
“When you think about track and field athlete, the speed that they go at, the twisting, the turning, the jumping, how they can actually consider it appropriate?
“Even from an audience perspective like even watching that - I mean, it's just it absolutely baffles me to think that there's somebody that made the decision or multiple people that made the decision.”
She particularly noted how high the leotard would run up a female athlete’s legs.
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“When I say high-rise, I really mean it's a high-rise suit that the girls would be expected to wear,” she said.
“I saw some of the USA athletes come out and make quite direct observations about what it would be like for them to perform in the outfits.
“To be quite crude about it, you would need a wax if you're going to be wearing something like that.
“If we’re talking about equality, if we're talking about the importance of keeping girls in sport, well then surely there should be parity when it comes to gear.”
Camogie attire
Ms Geary noted a similar but distinct issue in the Camogie Association Congress’ recent decision not to allow women to wear shorts as an alternative to skorts.
She said it was very disappointing to see 64% of delegates voting against the option of shorts to be introduced.
The issue, according to the former All-Ireland winner, is not the optics but the practical side.
Cork camogie players standing prior to the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final match between Cork and Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Aoife Rice/Sportsfile“The fabric, the material, the design of the skort – a lot of players feel it isn’t the most comfortable,” she said.
“We're trying to focus on optimising performance, so for the delegates who ultimately represent the players, for them to ignore the voice of the players, I think was very disappointing.
“The players are the epicentre of the game.”
The next time delegates can vote on the playing uniform will be at Congress in 2027.
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