[ad_1]
A Paralympic athlete qualified to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Games said she was left “speechless” after being told by an England championships official on Sunday that her competition shorts were too short.
Olivia Breen says an official woman made the comment after competing in the long jump competition. She wrote about the incident on social media on Sunday.
“I’m quite disappointed because just as I was finishing my long jump competition at the English Championships, one of the female referees felt it necessary to inform me that my sprint briefs were too short and inappropriate,” said writes Breen. “I was left speechless. I have been wearing the same style of sprint briefs for many years and they are specially designed for competition. …
“It made me wonder if a male competitor would be criticized in the same way.”
Breen files formal complaint and tweets photo of offending equipment
Breen told The Guardian that she wears official Adidas briefs that are part of her track uniform. She plans to file a formal complaint with UK Athletics over the comment.
She followed up on social media on Monday, thanking her followers for their support alongside a photo of her from Sunday wearing her competition gear.
Breen, 24, won a bronze medal in the 4×100 relay at the Paralympic Games in London in 2012. She has since won a gold at the world championships in the 4×100 in 2015 and another in the long jump in 2017. She has cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects a person’s motor functions and their ability to control their muscles.
English Athletics responds
A spokesperson for English Athletics told The Guardian it was looking into Breen’s complaint in a statement.
“We are aware of the publication and will investigate urgently,” the statement said. “The well-being of all participants in athletics is of the utmost importance and everyone should feel comfortable competing and participating in sport.”
Breen wrote that she understands the guidelines, but it’s not for officials to make a contestant uncomfortable about her appearance.
“Women shouldn’t feel self-conscious about what they’re wearing when competing, but they should feel comfortable and comfortable.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
[ad_2]
Source link