Olympian Dina Asher-Smith has called for more research into menstruation after she had cramps in the final of a 100m championship.
Olympian Dina Asher-Smith, a British sprinter who had cramps during her 100m title defense at the European Championships in Munich, explored how female physiology affects athletic performance. Requested more funding for research.
Key Point:
- Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith reveals she was on her period when she finished last in the 100m final
- She has been praised for speaking out by other athletes, such as Ireland’s Irish McColgan.
- World number one tennis player Iga Swiertek and golfer Lydia Coe also question the lack of research on the topic.
Asher-Smith finished last after suffering a calf cramp midway through the previous race. The 26-year-old returned to action later in the week to qualify for his 200 m final on Saturday.
“It’s absolutely huge, so it’s something more people need to study in terms of sports science,” Asher Smith later said.
“Women don’t even talk about it. We see girls who’ve been consistent getting depressed at random. Behind the scenes, while everyone is thinking, ‘What is it? It’s random.’ , They are really struggling. We need more funds.
“If it was a man’s problem, I think we could fight it in a million different ways. But when it comes to women, we need more funding in that area.”
Asher-Smith’s 4x100m relay teammate Imani-Lara Lansiquot revealed she was on her period at the Munich event — something her fellow runners didn’t know.
Like Asher-Smith, Lansiquot questioned why more research and funding had not been devoted to the women’s menstrual cycle in sport.
“100%, we need more money,” she said after appearing fastest in Sunday’s relay final.
“I still find it pretty shocking that it’s taboo. I’m going through it now. I’m sure we’ve all gone through it at some point, but we’re still very close to each other.” I haven’t said anything about it, like a big taboo that isn’t discussed.
“Hopefully in five or 10 years, this won’t be a confidential conversation, something we don’t have to be embarrassed about and can talk about and overcome.”
This issue has come to the fore in recent months across women’s sports. Commonwealth Games gold medalist Eilish McColgan writes column for BBC In it, she praised Asher Smith and described running during her period as ‘having legs’ [that] It feels like they’ve been replaced with concrete blocks, and a screwdriver carving the Taj Mahal around my ovaries.
“Some months I can manage, other months I can’t stand it. You never know what Irish you’ll get that day. Trying and doing, or at least to the best of my ability, is almost impossible.” It’s possible work,” she wrote.
World number one tennis player Iga Spheretek also addressed the issue at this year’s French Open, saying advances in medicine and technology could provide solutions for female athletes.
New Zealand’s world No. 4 female golfer, Lydia Coe, was praised online at the Palos Verdes Championship earlier this year after speaking openly about her period-related back problems during the tournament.
Reuters/ABC
Olympian Dina Asher-Smith has called for more research into menstruation after she had cramps in the final of a 100m championship.
Source link Olympian Dina Asher-Smith has called for more research into menstruation after she had cramps in the final of a 100m championship.
