"Unfair Genetic Advantage"

[Trek420]

I dunno dear. I've never experienced being fast at anything

But I recall though I can not find the direct quote but the amazing Flo Jo has written about wanting to be considered a woman and an athlete. Try to forget the flashy outfits, she sometimes wore lace, the flowing hair, the long elaborate nails .... and watch her run.

Pure speed. Looks like nobody is even in the same race.
Power
Form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q9_N...eature=related

If she wasn't dressed to the nines would someone be asking: She must have an unfair genetic advantage?

Women athletes and girls should be able to compete based on skill and strength and not how we look.

If I want to get all dolled up fine, if not, also fine.

I question what message this sends to young women and girls "If you're strong and not feminine you aren't a girl"

[OakLeaf]

I question what message this sends to young women and girls "If you're strong and not feminine you aren't a girl"

My husband's 17-year-old niece, yesterday, discussing Semenya [spoken as though this fact were proof that she's really a he]:

"She's got ABS!!!"

[Trek420]

My husband's 17-year-old niece, yesterday, discussing Semenya [spoken as though this fact were proof that she's really a he]:

"She's got ABS!!!"

Name one world class sprinter male or female who doesn't? And no subcutaneous body fat so you see every muscle fiber twitching. As I watched the video of Flo Jo I reflected she's got muscles I did not know existed. That thing at the outside top of the quad? What's that? I don't have that muscle. ;-)

Sprinters as we know from watching bike racing are weight lifters in motion. It's all power to weight ratio.

[OakLeaf]

Name one world class sprinter male or female who doesn't?

Pretty much what I said to her, except I said "athlete" instead of "sprinter." Cripes, we all know that swimmers have more body fat than any other athletes, and we've all seen Dara Torres' six-pack.

[Trek420]

Yes, and her biceps and her quads and her delts and near total lack of bQQbs and have you seen her lats???? ...... but she's a Mom so nobody gives her any guff nor questions her femininity.

So I ask is a woman athlete at the elite level held to a different standard than men that one obviously has to be strong enough to compete at that level yet look girly somehow. Are there any of us here at any level that we ride (and some here are competitive so I'd love to hear the pro's and semi pro chime in) who have felt this as a conflict.

And if you don't feel it's any conflict how do you juggle strength/power and femininity?