It's World Championship season for triathlon. Over the next three months, athletes from around the world will be competing in the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France (men), the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii (women) and in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain (men and women). There are also other events like the T100 in Qatar and the World Triathlon Championships in Australia. With the excitement of World Championship season comes extra attention on podcasts, YouTube videos, articles and forums. With so much hype around these sporting events, it's acceptable to discuss athlete favorites and dark horses as well as making assumptions for how the races may unfold. However, there's growing attention and discussion around the weights of many notable athletes.
Commenting on an athlete's body image carries a significant risk of damaging mental and physical health. Publicly discussing an athlete's weight, size, or general appearance, even with good intentions, can inadvertently undermine their overall well-being and performance.
With so many discussions and conversations around race weight, there are so many contradictions.
“You should get leaner but don't get RED-S.”“You need to be strong but lighter is faster.”
“Eat enough to support your training but don't gain weight.”
“Prioritize health but make sacrifices to win.”
“Be body positive but make yourself look ‘race ready.’”
“Performance matters the most but you’ll be judged on how you look.”
“Lose weight but don't look unhealthy."
“Be disciplined about your diet but don’t get an eating disorder."
“Celebrate your body for what it can do, but only if it's at a 'race weight'.”
“You should be strong and powerful, but also light and lean.”
“Prioritize longevity in sport, but we will praise you for quick transformations.”
“It's all about how your body performs, but how you look matters.”
“Be confident in your skin, but your body will be compared to athletes faster than you.”
“Weight doesn’t define you, but your results will be linked back to it.”
“Train hard and eat well, but don't gain weight."
Commenting, discussing and highlighting an athletes' body weight is an ongoing problem, rooted in toxic sports culture, media objectification, and the widespread promotion of an ideal body image. Such comments - which are often conflicting and confusing - can significantly increase a fixation on weight and appearance. This, in turn, can result in under-fueling/eating, increasing the risk of injury, health issues, and burnout.
The next time you hear a discussion on body weight, image or race weight, remind yourself that your body is your most valuable asset. It's not an object that needs to be manipulated to be made smaller.
Performance, health, and self-worth are not defined by a number on the scale. Your race weight is the one where you feel energized, happy, resilient, and healthy. Your performance is not defined by a number — it’s built on consistent training with a well-fueled and healthy body. Celebrate what your body allows you to do and not how it looks doing it.