Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments, is renowned for its all-white clothing rule, which has been a long-standing tradition. However, this year, the organizers have decided to relax the dress code for women players, bringing relief to many athletes.
The change comes as a response to the growing concern among women players about the stress of managing their periods during the tournament. Last year, Wimbledon’s organizers announced their decision to allow women players to wear dark-colored undershorts, a move aimed at reducing anxieties related to the visibility of blood on white clothes for menstruating athletes.
Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, stated in a press release, “We are committed to supporting the players and listening to their feedback as to how they can perform at their best. I’m pleased to confirm that, following consultation with players and representatives of several stakeholder groups, the Committee of Management has taken the decision to update the white clothing rule at Wimbledon.”
As a result of this update, starting this year, women and girls competing at Wimbledon will have the option to wear colored undershorts if they choose. The objective is to alleviate potential sources of anxiety and enable players to focus solely on their performance.
While the all-whites dress code remains intact, the relaxation of allowing dark-colored undergarments for women players has been widely welcomed. Former British World No. 1 Heather Watson expressed her happiness about this decision, revealing that she had previously used pills to stop herself from bleeding during periods.
Watson said, “When Wimbledon announced the allowance of under-shorts, I was so happy because it makes such a big difference. I speak openly about my period and being on my period. I don’t think it’s a taboo subject. I would love for people to talk about it more, especially women in sport. So, when I heard this, I was really happy because last year I went on the pill to stop myself from bleeding because I knew we had to wear white under-shorts, and I didn’t want to face any embarrassment.”
She added, “We’re running around sweating, doing the splits on the court. This year I knew my period was going to be during Wimbledon again, so I’m very happy that I won’t have to do the same thing as last year. I think it’s a real positive and it’s really great. Really forward-thinking.”
The decision to relax the dress code was initially prompted by several women players, including former Olympic champion Monica Puig and Australian tennis player Daria Saville, who spoke about the “mental stress” caused by the all-white dress code and the pressure of “skipping periods” as a result.
This progressive step by Wimbledon’s organizers reflects a commitment to the well-being and comfort of athletes and sets a precedent for more open discussions about women’s health and menstrual-related issues in the world of sports.
