How periods are a challenge for female athletes to win? Vinesh, Mirabai Chanu are examples – Olympics 2024 How Famale Athletes Faces Periods problem in Tournament like Vinesh Phogat and Meerabai Chanu Tedu

It is every athlete’s dream to win a medal in the Olympics. For this, athletes work hard for many years. But, the day the match or game takes place, it depends on the situation of that day whether they will get a chance to go to the medal podium or not. The stars of that day depend on many things like the athlete’s health, mental state and your hard work. But, for female athletes, there is another challenge along with all these challenges and that is periods.

There have been many female athletes in Olympic history who were not able to give their 100 percent that day due to periods in the Olympics. Talking about the Paris Olympics, this year too two female athletes from India could not reach the medal due to periods. These athletes include Vinesh Phogat and Mirabai Chanu. In such a situation, let us know what difficulties female athletes have to face during this time and how they prepare for periods…

Reasons behind Vinesh Phogat’s weight gain…

Periods are also an important reason behind Vinesh Phogat being 100 grams overweight. When Vinesh’s case went to court, in her appeal, Vinesh gave a medical certificate stating that on August 8, she was in the pre-period phase. This affects body weight. Let us tell you that weight also increases due to hormonal changes before periods.

Mirabai Chanu could not give her 100%

This time in Paris Olympics, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu also could not win a medal. She missed the medal by one step in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting competition. She later told that it was the third day of her periods that day and due to this she felt weak on the stage. Due to this, Mirabai Chanu was not able to give her 100 percent. Let us tell you that for many people, the first, second and third day of periods is very difficult and full of pain.

Many athletes have shared their experiences

Earlier, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui had given her opinion on this topic. She had said that periods cannot be used as an excuse, but she could not swim well in the 4x100m medley relay women’s final at the Rio Olympics due to periods and due to this she could not win the medal. Apart from her, many other athletes have also admitted that their performance was affected due to periods.

Are there any difficulties?

A survey conducted in 2023 revealed that out of 195 Australian female athletes training for the Tokyo Olympics or Paralympics, about 66 percent admitted that their performance is greatly affected due to periods and they complain of pain, swelling, low energy. At the same time, a study conducted on 45 female gymnasts in Poland in 2019 revealed that 60% of the athletes had hypermenorrhea, this occurs when women bleed more. In such a situation, it is very difficult for women to play.

According to India Today report, obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Aastha Dayal says, ‘Every woman has a different experience with her periods. For some, it is without any problem, while for some it is painful. Bleeding etc. affect the quality of life. Also, for athletes, it affects their performance in different ways.

How do you take care?

In such a situation, female athletes take special care of their period cycle. For this, women use some special apps and track their cycle. In such a situation, they are prepared for it in advance. Olympic gold medalist Sam Quek told BBC that she uses an app on her phone, which keeps track of heart rate, urine color, sleeping time. Also, hormone changes etc. are tracked through Hormonix and preparations are made accordingly.