During her first appearance at the Olympics in Tokyo 2021, Kate Van Buskirk achieved her second fastest time in the women’s 5,000 meters under oppressive heat of 41 degrees Celsius.
This was an incredible achievement, and she later collapsed on the track to absorb the moment.
Five years later, Van Buskirk reflects on this experience as the most “egregious” moment captured on camera, with images shared online showing her “sprawled out” on the track from very intrusive angles.
“I had just completed the most significant race of my life… I remember seeing those photos and thinking, ‘these will be on the Internet forever,’” Van Buskirk remarked, noting that there were also other images of this moment that did not portray her inappropriately.
Such occurrences are not uncommon in women’s sports.
A study conducted by The Representation Project during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics revealed that female athletes were sexualized nearly ten times more than their male counterparts, despite Olympic broadcasters urging camera operators to focus on “sport appeal, not sex appeal” before the events.
“It ought to be about athletic performance, not physical appearance,” stated Van Buskirk, who has since retired and is now a track and field analyst. “Even if it’s unintentional, care should be taken concerning how photographers are positioned so that we’re not just providing that single perspective.”
For many years, women’s sports uniforms have sparked discussions about their design and fit, highlighted by the debate surrounding Nike’s introduction of a new high-cut bodysuit for women during the lead-up to Paris 2024.
Van Buskirk refers to her track attire as her “equipment,” favoring bottoms known as “bunners.”
“I aim to wear the least amount of fabric possible while still maintaining the dignity to perform my sport and be respected as an athlete, without being distracted or worrying about whether I’m adequately covering myself,” she continued.
More athletes are speaking out about invasive camera angles at women’s athletics competitions.
Europe pushing for change from broadcastersÂ
In July 2026, the European Broadcasting Union and European Athletics established new guidelines aimed at enhancing coverage in women’s athletics, addressing problematic broadcasting practices that “add zero narrative value.”
The report, Raising The Bar, identified lingering close-ups on specific body parts, low-angle camera placements, and unnecessary slow-motion replays without storytelling significance as the primary “culprits.”
“The way audiences consume sports today can amplify that impact. A single frame from a live broadcast can be clipped, zoomed in, and shared globally within minutes,” said Elissavet Arapi, who leads women’s sports for the European Broadcasting Union.
“Such images can lead to sexualized comments and abusive behavior online, and athletes have expressed increasing concern about this.”
Above is a photo created by the European Broadcasting Union and European Athletics to show the encouraged standard camera angles in the broadcasting of womenâs athletics. (European Broadcasting Union)
Van Buskirk mentioned that some of her fellow athletes have discovered highly sexualized images of themselves taken during competitions on “soft core porn” websites.
“I have observed many replay videos over the years of myself and others where there’s no commentary accompanying them… It’s a slow-motion pan starting from the calves and moving up very deliberately,” she explained.
Arapi stated that managing editorial choices like this is a collaborative effort among directors, video operators, and camera personnel who must “quickly adjust if their shot produces a sexualized image.”
Michele Donnelly, an associate professor of Sports Management at Brock University, is quick to highlight the shortcomings of the guidelines.
“Why can’t this be a policy? The entire document justifies why it is needed. It should be mandatory, not merely a guideline,” Donnelly asserted. “The IOC (International Olympic Committee) must lead by example and hold itself accountable.”
As Canada’s official broadcaster for the Olympic Games, Paul McDougall, head of production and content at CBC Sports, emphasized that the organization’s top priority is always athletic excellence.
“Broadcasters owe women athletes not just airtime but also a broadcast that respects their power, skills, and dignity. Visibility encourages participation. By implementing respectful production guidelines, we move beyond mere representation to foster a landscape where athletic excellence remains the central focus,” McDougall stated.
The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the permanent host of all Olympic and Paralympic Games, also indicated that they have established guidelines to ensure respectful athlete coverage.
“Respectful and appropriate portrayal of all athletes across all sports is a vital aspect of OBS’s coverage of the Olympic Games. This is reflected in our guidelines for venue production teams and is taken into consideration during our quality control processes when overseeing OBS coverage,” the OBS mentioned in a statement to CBC Sports.
Germany’s Gina Lückenkemper, right, finds the upward-facing cameras intrusive and uncomfortable while competing. (Petr David Josek/The Associated Press)
Education versus information
In 2019, the World Athletics Organization introduced two small cameras within the starting blocks for sprint and hurdle events at the world championships in Doha.
The aim was to provide “trailblazing” perspectives capturing the athletes’ explosive starts; however, several sprinters heavily criticized the camera placements. Notably, German athletes Gina Lückenkemper and Tatjana Pinto expressed that the upward-facing cameras were intrusive and uncomfortable while in their competition gear.
“When your body is exposed… it implies a sense of access and ownership, allowing images of women’s bodies to be used for various purposes. This also affects real-life interactions and expectations of athletes,” Donnelly explained.
In light of the criticism, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) agreed to limit the block camera shots to only times right at the starting gun and to delete video data at other times during the day.
“We have taken note of specific feedback regarding the block cameras and have confirmed that we have adequate measures in place to protect athlete privacy when selecting broadcast images,” the IAAF stated. “We also adhere to strict editorial guidelines for broadcast content, which have been observed since the championships began.”
While the issue of sexualization is not exclusive to female athletes, male athletes are often celebrated when their bodies are captured on camera, rather than facing threats, according to Donnelly.
“Without downplaying the negative impacts that many athletes may experience, often when men’s bodies are sexualized, it is done in a celebratory manner. Consider the case of Anthony Ammirati, the high jumper from Paris 2024, where the focus was entirely on his masculinity,” Donnelly remarked.
On Friday, the leading track athletes will compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where intense rivalries and fresh talent will emerge as a precursor to the LA 2028 Games.
With athletics being one of the most viewed sports during the Summer Olympics, setting broadcasting standards may be more crucial than ever.
“There’s a distinction between informing and educating, versus merely entertaining. I believe that as soon as we shift our focus to entertainment, it can quickly lead to hyper-sexualization,” Van Buskirk noted.
“That’s not storytelling; it’s objectification,” Van Buskirk concluded.