‘This is true female sport and the more barriers we can break through the better,’ says triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne, after sharing a photo of herself competing in the PTO European Open triathlon in Ibiza on 19 May.
Also read: SA women’s gymnastics team wins gold and qualifies for World Champs
She was wearing a pink and blue swimsuit – she overheats and faints in hot races – and sported a period stain at the bottom. ‘A lot of the photos you can’t see anything, pouring water over yourself at aid stations does the trick and if it doesn’t you end up with one photo like this but the idea to edit it means there is something wrong with it.’
View this post on Instagram
‘If you wrote to me saying 99% of the women you know would be mortified at this then that is exactly why I am sharing this, because there really is nothing wrong. Its natural and coming from eating issues as an endurance runner when I was growing up where I didn’t have my period, I now see it as beautiful.’
The photo went viral earlier in May after it was shared by Professional Triathletes Organisation’s (PTO) on Instagram, which sparked Pallant to post it herself.
‘I raced in a swimsuit because I over heat and pass out in hot races, on my period my body temp is also higher. I have a full length suit for the cooler races in dark colours but the light colours we were experimenting with for the cooling effect. It is dark at the bottom and at the back but my bike position has changed and now I roll more forward (lesson learnt for next years suit design).’
Pallant says she has been humbled by the amount of messages from both men and women about ‘unglamorous reality of racing on your period. So if you have a photo like this, save it, cherish it, remember how you performed on a tough day because one day you might just be able to help someone else with it.’
Cape {town} Etc discount: Cape {town} Etc discount: Relax with a 90-minute pamper package for two in the Cape Town city centre for R499 (valued at R1 250). Get it here.
Also read:
Scotland makes period products free and SA should take a hint
Picture: @em_pallant / Instagram