ATHLETE’S DISMAY AT SHORTS JIBE
DOUBLE world champion para-athlete Olivia Breen claims she was told her briefs were “too short and revealing” and she should be wearing something “more appropriate” while competing.
The 24-year-old Welsh sprinter and long-jumper, who is set to head to the Paralympics in Tokyo, claimed an official at the English Championships on Sunday made the comments and spoke out to highlight the incident and prevent it from happening to others.
She has been wearing the same style of competition briefs throughout her career.
“Just as I finished my long jump competition, one of the female officials felt it necessary to inform me that my sprint briefs were too short and inappropriate. I was left speechless,” Breen wrote on Twitter.
“I have been wearing the same style sprint briefs for many years and they are specifically designed for competing in. I will hopefully be wearing them in Tokyo.
“It made me question whether a male competitor would be similarly criticised.
“I recognise there needs to be regulations and guidelines in relation to competition kit but women should not be made to feel self-conscious about what they are wearing when competing, but should feel comfortable and at ease.”
She later told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour programme: “They are like high-waisted bikini bottoms.
“I’ve worn them for nine years, I’ve never had a problem and we should feel comfortable with what we wear.
“We want to be as light as possible when we’re competing, not having to feel heavy, and to feel comfortable.
“We should just wear what we’re entitled to wear.
“It made me feel really angry and it’s very wrong. You know they can’t comment on what we can and can’t wear.”
Breen claimed the incident occurred after she competed in the long jump in Bedford.
“I’d just finished my competition and was thanking the officials and this official came up to me and said ‘can I talk to you?’ and I was like ‘yeah, what’s the problem?’
“She said ‘I think what you’re wearing is very revealing and I think you should consider buying shorts’. I didn’t know what to say. I was left speechless and my first thought process was ‘are you joking?’”
Breen won a world championship gold medal in the T35-38 4x100m class in 2015, and in 2017 won gold in the T38 long jump. She also won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics.
An England Athletics spokesman told the BBC: “We are aware of the post and will be investigating as a matter of urgency. The wellbeing of all participants in athletics is of the utmost importance and everyone should feel comfortable to compete.”