The recent fashion show in Paris featuring women athletes marked a celebration of gender parity at the Olympics. Athletes like Natalie Cook, Sarah Walker, and Athing Mu walked the catwalk wearing T-shirts with empowering slogans. While the Paris 2024 Olympics have achieved gender equality in terms of total number of male and female competitors, there is still a disparity across countries and sports. Ebony Morrison, a Liberia athlete, highlighted the need for more protection of women in sports, particularly in terms of safety and working conditions.
Despite the progress made, challenges remain for women in sports, including the outfits they wear, online harassment, and inadequate support from key figures like coaches and doctors. The fashion industry has also shown a renewed interest in women athletes, with several magazine covers featuring prominent athletes ahead of the Paris Games. However, former Olympian Natalie Cook emphasized the need to address the financial struggles of female athletes and ensure they can sustain their careers without facing financial hardships.
Australia is making efforts to achieve gender equality not only in terms of athletes but also in the coaching staff for the upcoming Olympics in Brisbane. The fashion show in Paris included notable athletes like BMX racer Sarah Walker, who walked the catwalk six months pregnant, emphasizing the message of empowerment for women of all shapes and sizes. The show also featured Qatari swimmer Nada Mohamed Wafa Arakji, a trailblazer for female athletes in Qatar, where female representation in sports is still limited compared to male athletes.
The importance of increasing female representation in coaching roles was also highlighted during the fashion show. The push for gender parity and equal opportunities for women in sports is a global effort that requires ongoing support and advocacy. While progress has been made in terms of visibility and representation of women athletes, there is still work to be done to address the systemic challenges they face in the sports industry. Overall, the fashion show in Paris served as a platform to advocate for gender equality and empowerment in sports, inspiring women athletes to continue breaking boundaries and pursuing their dreams on and off the field.
