Being An Athlete And Being Girly Are Not Mutually Exclusive
A trend I've noticed while watching the Olympics this year is that feminine self-expression is louder than ever. From Sha’Carri Richardson's bold looks to Ilona Maher's irreverent take on body stereotypes to Simone Biles' lighthearted digs at her haters, it’s clear that women are feeling more empowered to show up as their authentic, whole selves rather than shrinking to match society’s expectations. It’s been interesting to say the least.
This is a shift from past Games, when the sole focus in sport was performance and hardware count. Athletes were expected to be all business, leaving little room for personal expression that didn’t directly relate to their sport.
Despite all that’s happening on the big screen and while scrolling the tiny screen, I’ve had conversations with female athletes recently where I noticed that there’s still some lingering shame around embracing girliness while playing a sport. Even when we acknowledge that we want to show up as the fullest version of ourselves, many women seem to fear that displaying a softer, more feminine side will be interpreted as dumb, weak, or frivolous.
“I think the stereotype around a rugby player is this idea that you need to drop your femininity and play a very masculine, brutal sport. Myself and my team and some others on the circuit like Australia and Ireland, are showing that femininity.”
This brings me back to the schoolyard years, when it was very black and white: you were either a girly-girl or a tomboy. There was no in-between and if you spent too much time fixing your ponytail, you’d be teased for it.
Sportswear is an arena in fashion where anything goes–bedazzled uniforms, ‘80s neon, head-to-toe spandex might not fly in a 9-5 setting, but are entirely welcome when training or competing. Personally, even though I normally dress in neutrals in my day-to-day, I’m apt to make bolder fashion choices when I put on a pair of yoga pants or a cycling kit.
Triathlon can be a gritty sport and because of that, it’s important that I feel put together when I race. That’s why I care about having my nails done and hair braided, as inconsequential as those details could come across. It's my way of merging my sporty side with my girly side, and it makes me feel more like myself.
Watching the many layers of these athletes unfold is making the Olympics more dynamic than ever and I’m here for it.