In high-level sports, hair and hairstyle are far from being mere physical details: for female athletes, they can enhance performance or, conversely, hinder practice. For the public, hairstyles are scrutinised, commented on, and often criticised, especially if the athletes have Afro hair.
Simone Biles and the hair controversy at Paris 2024
Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, recently faced backlash during the Paris 2024 Olympics. On July 30, 2024, she posted an Instagram story saying, “Next time you want to comment on a black girl’s hair. DON’T.” This was in response to numerous comments about her hairstyle during the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification on July 28. Critics on X (formerly Twitter) made remarks like, “The fact that Simone Biles is never well-coiffed makes me angry” and “Her bun is literally floating with strands sticking out everywhere. It almost looks like she’s doing it on purpose…???? Wtf.”
How Afro hair overshadows black women’s athletic achievements
Curly hair is often targeted with racist and discriminatory remarks, deemed “unprofessional” or “unattractive” by detractors. Gabby Douglas, a former Olympic gymnast, faced similar attacks during the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics. Instead of celebrating her as the first African American to win an individual all-around title, critics focused on her hair. In a 2020 Instagram post, Douglas said, “I competed in two Olympics, and my hair was the topic of conversation.”
Douglas explained that tying her hair in a tight ponytail for gymnastics damaged it, leaving bald spots she tried to cover with clips. This embarrassment even made her reluctant to go to the gym. “My hair grew back, but soon after, I had to cut it because it was very damaged,” she added.
Ensuring hair care at the Paris 2024 Olympics
To prevent Olympic athletes from having to style their hair before competing at Paris 2024, Raphaël Perrier, a four-time world hairdressing champion, ensured half his team at the Olympic Village hair salon focused on textured hair. The goal? To meet everyone’s needs and create any hairstyle, regardless of hair type.
The battle for appropriate hair equipment
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) faced backlash in June 2021 for banning Soul Cap swimming caps, designed for afro hair, at the Tokyo Olympics. FINA claimed the caps did not “follow the natural shape of the head.” This decision was reversed in September 2022. Swimmer Alice Dearing praised the move, saying, “Knowing that it’s acceptable to compete with this cap at the highest level of sport sends the message that hair should not be a barrier to participation.”
Turning Afro hair criticism into strength
Despite facing criticism, black athletes have always reclaimed their power and defended their identity. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are prime examples. In the late 90s, they began wearing beaded braids, becoming their signature look. Even when Venus lost a bead during the 1999 Australian Open, causing controversy, the sisters continued to defend their style, helping to redefine beauty standards in sports. “Venus and I were not afraid to wear braids,” Serena Williams told Allure in 2019. “We were not afraid to be black in tennis. And it was different.”
A new generation embracing hair identity
Many female athletes today stand against hair discrimination and embrace their identity through various hairstyles. Ketra Armstrong, director of the Center for Race and Ethnicity in Sport at the University of Michigan, told NBC News, “Black women had to present themselves in a way that was not perceived as neglected or unprofessional. They were judged by their hair. We are now at a point where black women are reclaiming their crown.”
Celebrating unique hairstyles in sports
Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, an eight-time Olympic medalist, is known for her colourful wigs. She told Mirror in March 2023, “It’s like my wigs are a superpower, and I can step into a character and feel almost invincible. It makes me feel good to express myself this way.”
Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson also made a statement at the 2023 World Championships by removing her wig before the 100m race, revealing her natural braided hair. In a July 2024 Vogue video, she said, “I will never change the confidence I have in myself. But I have learned that there is a way to carry it much more gracefully.”
Simone Biles, in a pre-Paris 2024 interview with ELLE US, shared how tutorials by black YouTubers helped her accept her hair. “I am finally learning to love my hair, the texture I have, and the styles I can do,” she said. “Before, I feared that [my hairstyle] would be considered unprofessional. But I am no longer ashamed.”
Embracing Afro hair and making history
Galvanised by the nappy movement, black athletes now more than ever claim their afro hair. While critics pour their hate on social media, these athletes are making history in women’s sports and winning medals.
This article was syndicated from Marie Claire France
Translated and adapted by Praise Vandeh, Marie Claire Nigeria Content Writer
