The controversy over the Australian Diamonds’ uniforms at the 2026 Commonwealth Games has highlighted ongoing issues of body image, comfort, and inclusivity in elite women’s sport, prompting calls for better-designed kit and increased support for athletes.
The row over the Diamonds’ dresses at the 2026 Commonwealth Games has become more than a passing wardrobe complaint. What should have been remembered as a commanding win over Tonga was instead overshadowed by repeated commentary on the fit of the players’ uniforms, before Australia’s campaign ended in a shock semi-final defeat to Jamaica. The episode has reignited a broader debate about whether elite women’s sport still asks athletes to compete in kit that is uncomfortable, distracting and, in some cases, actively discouraging.
According to the Australian Sports Commission’s evidence on women’s sport, uniform design can affect both participation and performance, with ill-fitting or restrictive clothing often cited as a barrier for girls and women. Research published in academic journals has found that revealing or poorly fitting uniforms can intensify body dissatisfaction, while the problem is not confined to community sport. It extends into elite environments, where appearance pressures and performance demands collide.
That is a reality Teigan O’Shannassy knows well. The Sydney netballer, who has previously been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, told the ABC that she had also struggled with dresses during the most recent Super Netball season. For athletes already dealing with body image concerns, she said, being expected to perform in clothing that feels uncomfortable can add another layer of strain at precisely the wrong moment.
O’Shannassy’s concerns reach beyond fabric and fashion. She described how early in her career coaches compared bodies, training loads and physical development in ways that left a lasting mark, and how body-composition testing such as skinfolds and DEXA scans fed unhealthy comparisons between teammates. She said the experience helped drive a cycle of under-fuelling, injuries and self-doubt, until a period of enforced treatment during the pandemic forced a turning point in her career.
Her story mirrors wider findings from the ABC and Deakin University survey of elite Australian women athletes, which found that a quarter reported negative body image and 44 per cent said they had experienced an eating disorder and/or disordered eating. That sits well above the Butterfly Foundation’s estimate for the general population. Danni Rowlands, the foundation’s director of education initiatives and a former state netballer, said women in sport face appearance pressures that are intensified by social media, where athletes are scrutinised in ways male players rarely are. She said younger athletes need support earlier, before poor body image becomes entrenched.
For Rowlands and O’Shannassy, the answer is not silence but more openness, better support and more thoughtful kit design. Studies and industry commentary alike point to the same conclusion: when sportswear is designed with women’s bodies in mind, it can improve comfort, confidence and retention in sport. In the meantime, the controversy around the Diamonds has done what awkward uniforms often do best: expose a problem many athletes have long been living with, even when few outside the dressing room have noticed.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
