Beyond the beautiful game

Three of Ireland’s leading female athletes have rubbished suggestions that body image remains an issue for women in sport.

Retired race-walker Olive Loughnane, Cork camogie captain Anna Geary and Irish heptathlon record holder Kelly Proper agreed that spectators, the media and potential sponsors are still drawn to the more aesthetically pleasing athletes, but denied sportswomen are pressurised to conform to a certain image.

The debate surfaced last week when 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson last week that the “tyranny of thin and beautiful” continues to weigh heavy on elite sportswomen.

Former World Championship silver medallist Olive Loughnane fumed to think she was ever judged on anything other than her race-walking abilities.

“Any female athlete who is more concerned about their looks more so than their performance is in the wrong business,” she said.

“I never really went down the commercial route, but it probably helped if you looked good. It is the same with men, however.

“Why make a gender issue of it? Joe Canning is a fantastic hurler but part of the reason he gets the coverage he does is because he looks well.

“As far as I was concerned my primary aim was to perform. That is what I took more seriously. That is ultimately how we are judged. I never really considered my appearance. If you start with a face of make-up you are not going to be finishing with a face of make-up. It is disappointing that this route is even being explored.”

In terms of securing a sponsorship contract, however image is paramount, according to Kelly Proper.

“The better looking athletes get more attention from the media and sponsors,” claimed the Irish long-jump record holder.

“The Russian pole vaulter, Yelena Isinbayeva, she is gorgeous and an excellent athlete. Then you look at the African 800m runner, Caster Semenya, and I’d say a lot more spectators would go to the pole vault.

“For athletes at the lower end they are more concerned about their performance than looks.

“I wear make up when I go out running. It is not because I think ‘oh I am competing and I need to look good’. I am doing it for myself and no one else.”

Wexford camogie star Katrina Parrock became a social media sensation this summer when TV cameras showed footage of her as a water carrier during an All-Ireland championship game.

The All-Ireland winner, who was injured at the time, said afterwards: “I suppose it is a bit sexist isn’t it, like The Sunday Game putting me on, but they never say ‘that’s Katrina Parrock, she’s out injured’ kind of thing. It was more ‘she’s bringing on water in her shorts’.”

Her proud mother Liz, told the Sunday World: “Katrina is known for her skill and prowess on the field first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean she can’t also be looked upon as pleasant-looking. The camogie association have a great marketing tool at their hands and I’m surprised that corporate companies like Lucozade and the likes haven’t taken this onboard. Some people might say it’s not the right attention, but if it promotes camogie in a positive light, it is okay by me.”

Geary has another viewpoint on the issue though. She noted: “If you look at the promotion of camogie, the players who are used at the various events, the launch of the various championships, are the captains. They are selected for their skill, their leadership. They are not picked on how they look.

“If you look at the media in a broader spectrum and trying to attract a wider audience then some may say it might help if somebody was pleasing on the eye. If you are to take female sports serious, you have to push forward with your main players, those have the highest skill. People might be attracted to your sport for one reason, but they will only follow it if the skill level is a high one.

“If you look to the GAA, it is Henry Shefflin and the Gooch who are marketed. Regardless of how they look, they are used because they are at the top of their game. Their most recognisable players are used to the promote game, it should be the same for female sports.”