“Thanks for caring but definitely something I’m not shy to talk about because it’s the reality of females in sport.” This was Emma’s direct response to the comment, which has since been deleted.
Emma took to her own Instagram page to share the photo. “This is true female sport and the more barriers we can break through the better,” she wrote.
“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. It’s 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 menstrual cycle as a signal of health
At Women’s Running, we often take the opportunity to celebrate the menstrual cycle. Unfortunately for a lot of female athletes, disordered eating and conditions such as RED-S can stop the reproductive system from functioning, resulting in a loss of period.
That’s why it’s so important to celebrate having our periods, even if they can be an inconvenience when racing and trying to perform in sport.
Sports Performance Mentor Kate Gray highlighted this issue in sharing the photo on her own Instagram.
“An elite (or any) athlete having their period is something to be…
