Women athletes participating in a fashion show in Paris to celebrate gender parity at the Olympics expressed their appreciation for reaching this milestone but emphasized the need for further improvements in working conditions, pay, and visibility for women in sports. Former and current athletes such as beach volleyball gold medalist Natalie Cook, BMX racer Sarah Walker, and US middle-distance runner Athing Mu showcased their support by walking the runway in T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like 'Parity Paris' and 'I Am'. The Paris 2024 Olympics marks the first time an equal number of men and women are competing, although the distribution varies significantly by country and sport. Paris also holds the historical significance as the location where women first participated in the Olympics in 1900, representing only 2% of the total competitors.
'Honestly, more needs to be done to protect women in sports,' stated Ebony Morrison, who will represent Liberia in the 100-metre hurdles. 'We face issues with our attire, online harassment, and sometimes lack safe environments with those meant to support us, like our doctors and coaches,' she added. The fashion industry has shown a renewed interest in women athletes leading up to the Paris Games, featuring US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson on the cover of Vogue and basketball player A'ja Wilson in Marie Claire's Women in Sports issue. Over half of the content on Olympics.com and social media channels is dedicated to women, according to Olympic Broadcasting Services CEO Yiannis Exarchos.
However, for every spotlighted female Olympian, many others struggle to make a living, noted Cook, a five-time Olympian for Australia. 'I never want to hear an athlete say they left their sport due to financial hardship, which often affects female athletes the most.' Australia is targeting gender parity among coaches and athletes for the Olympics it will host in 2032, revealed Cook, who serves on the board of directors for Brisbane 2032. BMX racer Walker, who won silver at the London 2012 Olympics, participated in the fashion show while six months pregnant, aiming to inspire her daughters with the message that they can achieve greatness regardless of their body image. Walker also highlighted the need for greater female representation in coaching. The event also featured Qatari swimmer Nada Mohamed Wafa Arakji, one of the first women to represent Qatar at the Olympics in 2012. This year in Paris, Qatar's 14-member team includes only one woman athlete, Shahd Ashraf, who will compete in the 100 metres.
