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Should Only Female Athletes Wear Revealing Uniforms? Japan Trackwear Debate Examines the Science

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Online debate followed a Japanese high school track meet where some users criticized women’s uniforms for exposing more of the body than men’s uniforms.
  • Athlete Riko Izumiya said two-piece uniforms can improve comfort and movement, and argued that athletes should choose what suits them.
  • Professor Kazuya Seo said close-fitting uniforms that cover the abdomen can reduce air resistance, while exposed skin or loose clothing may increase it.

A debate over women’s track uniforms in Japan has moved beyond appearance and into questions of choice, comfort and performance. Online users questioned why female athletes often wear uniforms that expose the stomach or waist while male athletes wear more covering designs.

The discussion followed a high school track meet and was reported by Abema Times. One user asked why uniforms differed by gender at the same competition. Another questioned why only female athletes should have to wear more revealing clothes.

Others argued that uniform designs can serve practical purposes. Riko Izumiya, a track and field athlete who has competed in sprinting, long jump and shot put among seven events, said she had worn two-piece uniforms since high school. She initially followed the other athletes, she explained, but later chose the style because it felt easier to move in and seemed to help improve her results.

Why is there a gender difference in uniforms at the same competition?

· Online commenterA user questioned the different levels of body coverage in men’s and women’s track uniforms.

Izumiya stressed that the choice should belong to each athlete. People without competition experience may find it difficult to understand why athletes select particular designs, she said, so athletes should be able to choose the form that suits them.

Kazuya Seo, a sports fluid dynamics researcher at Kogakuin University, said clothing can also affect air resistance. A close-fitting uniform that covers the abdomen is most favorable for reducing resistance, while an exposed abdomen can disrupt airflow and create a wake of vortices behind the body. Loose clothing can also increase resistance as it moves. Sportswear that supports the chest may reduce discomfort and energy use during movement, but has little effect on air resistance. The discussion therefore points to both scientific efficiency and an athlete’s physical and psychological comfort, with the final choice left to the athlete.

Why should only female athletes have to wear clothes that expose more of their bodies?

· Online commenterAnother user criticized the expectation that women wear more revealing competition uniforms.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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