Are you a bikini? Track and field star who blew the whistle on London Marathon dress debate...Should I run in training clothes in this weather? How to improve the perception of gender discrimination

May 09, 2025

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British long-distance runner Holly Archer challenging the London Marathon. Photo by =Ollie Archer Instagram

"Should I run in training suits?"

After the traditional London Marathon, an untimely debate over gender discrimination has become a hot topic for the player in question.

According to British media 'Mail' on the 9th (Korea time), British long-distance track star Holly Archer responded to the marathon dress debate with a strong message on her SNS.

The marathon dress debate originated at the London Marathon on the 28th of last month. A total of 56,640 participants crossed the finish line to set a new competition record. In the midst of this, there was an eye-catching player.

Holi Archer won the women's 1500 m silver medal at the 2021 European Indoor Athletics Championships. Archer challenged the marathon for the first time and completed it with a remarkable time of 2 hours and 39 minutes, displaying a fighting spirit that exceeds the age of 31.

But her challenge was caricatured by her attire. Archer competed in the marathon wearing his signature running brief called 'run buns'. It looks like a swimsuit bikini, but it has long been common in the track and field world to improve performance.

However, some conservative fans have sparked controversy over Archer's attire. They expressed their discomfort with online responses such as "'London has a lot of clothing stores, and there are a lot of nice clothes, but did you forget to dress up?' 'I'm embarrassed to see it,' 'Did you really have to run like that?' and 'Men run in marathon without bikinis?' Some professional critics have also joined in comparing Archer's attire to a swimsuit.

Then Archer posted on his social media, "Should I have worn a training suit?," he said, expressing his disappointment at comments that focused on appearance rather than match records and the meaning of participation. At the same time, Archer added an explanation on the basis of sports science. On the day of the game, temperatures soared to 25 degrees Celsius and humidity reached 78%, making existing running suits not practical.

It is pointed out that the controversy is a side that clearly shows the double standard that women still face in the sports world. Archer's attire is not a new phenomenon in the long-distance athletics world. This is because many elite female athletes have chosen similar outfits for years, and have prioritized economic comfort and performance over social notions that require neatness. In the end, it is pointed out that it reflects the reality that female athletes are evaluated by their appearance rather than their achievements.

Athletics - London Marathon - London, Britain - April 27, 2025 Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa, Britain's Phily Bowden, Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei and Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot in action during the woman's elite race action images via Reuters/John Sibley

In this regard, support for Archer is also formidable. One fan defended "Anyone who complains because of what Archer wears doesn't know the importance of completing the marathon in two and a half hours" while another defended "I would wear it every day if I had abs like Archer." Not just on the day of the game!."

Foreign press 'Pinnacle Gazette'Archer has not lost his pride in completing the marathon despite negative public opinion'Archer's journey to the London Marathon demonstrated his ability and determination as an athlete. Criticism of clothing is disappointing, but at the same time, it emphasized the need for society to change its view of female athletes. As Archer constantly breaks down the barriers of sports, her story inspires many people and proves that skills must come first over appearance.'"

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.