Biff_Poindexter
Diamond Member
Alaska high school swimmer disqualification outcry led to reversal - CNN
So a high school swimmer up in Alaska by the name of Brecklyn Willis was disqualified from a swim meet she participated in. The reason for her disqualification wasn't for performance enhancing drugs or any illegal swim move, it was something far more sinister. From the article:
"She swam in and won a heat during the meet, but a race official deemed that her swimsuit had shifted into a position that showed too much of her backside. The official said Breckynn's team-issued swimsuit didn't fit her properly and thus violated a rule, according to a statement from the Anchorage School District."
Despite the fact that Brecklyn wore the pre-approved swim suit that was provided to her by her school; the young swimmer was still disqualified because the official found her to be in violation of the modesty rule. A rule put in place to combat against growing trend of high school athletes from both genders intentionally rolling up their swimsuits "in such a way as to expose the athlete's buttocks." There was a diagram created to show how the swim suit is supposed to fit, this rule was created due to the fact that adults felt uncomfortable being around the swimmers who did not have their buttocks properly covered.
Luckily, the decision to disqualify Miss Willis was overturned due to the fact the official did not notify her coach beforehand that the way the suit fit the swimmer's body was inappropriate. Brecklyn's mother was not happy at all saying she felt her daughter was unfairly targeted for the strength and conditioning work she put in. She went on to say "that her daughter's muscular tone made it harder for the swimsuit to fit properly"
"It shows a "1950s" swimsuit model", Kowatch said, (referring to the diagram) and didn't reflect the reality of how modern swimsuits fit the physique of high-level athletes when they're performing. "They're body-shaming teenage girls," Kowatch said. "These are tough, strong girls."
So a high school swimmer up in Alaska by the name of Brecklyn Willis was disqualified from a swim meet she participated in. The reason for her disqualification wasn't for performance enhancing drugs or any illegal swim move, it was something far more sinister. From the article:
"She swam in and won a heat during the meet, but a race official deemed that her swimsuit had shifted into a position that showed too much of her backside. The official said Breckynn's team-issued swimsuit didn't fit her properly and thus violated a rule, according to a statement from the Anchorage School District."
Despite the fact that Brecklyn wore the pre-approved swim suit that was provided to her by her school; the young swimmer was still disqualified because the official found her to be in violation of the modesty rule. A rule put in place to combat against growing trend of high school athletes from both genders intentionally rolling up their swimsuits "in such a way as to expose the athlete's buttocks." There was a diagram created to show how the swim suit is supposed to fit, this rule was created due to the fact that adults felt uncomfortable being around the swimmers who did not have their buttocks properly covered.
Luckily, the decision to disqualify Miss Willis was overturned due to the fact the official did not notify her coach beforehand that the way the suit fit the swimmer's body was inappropriate. Brecklyn's mother was not happy at all saying she felt her daughter was unfairly targeted for the strength and conditioning work she put in. She went on to say "that her daughter's muscular tone made it harder for the swimsuit to fit properly"
"It shows a "1950s" swimsuit model", Kowatch said, (referring to the diagram) and didn't reflect the reality of how modern swimsuits fit the physique of high-level athletes when they're performing. "They're body-shaming teenage girls," Kowatch said. "These are tough, strong girls."
