Female athletes increasingly discuss menstrual cycle's impact on performance, challenging taboos

A growing number of female athletes, including biathlete Julia Simon, are openly discussing the impact of the menstrual cycle on their physical performance, challenging long-standing taboos. Simon, a triple gold medalist at the Milan Cortina Games, stated that women cannot be expected to have the same performance consistency as men due to their cycles, which can cause physical challenges like heavy or trembling legs. Professional boxer Marine Beauchamp shared the stress of managing her cycle around fights, noting that menstruation sometimes coincides with weigh-ins, a critical period for weight management where water retention can be an issue. The French Boxing Federation FFBoxe is actively working to encourage women's participation in sports and break down taboos, partnering with Smoon, a brand of menstrual underwear, to offer adapted technical equipment for greater comfort. Marine Van den Bussche, co-founder of Smoon, explained that menstrual issues often deter women from sports. Figure skater Amber Glenn and long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall have also spoken candidly about competing during their periods, with Davis-Woodhall describing "atrocious" pain during a competition. Former world No. 1 tennis player Iga Swiatek emphasized that managing menstruation is an integral part of sports. Carole Maître, a gynecologist at Insep, welcomes these discussions, noting that the subject is less taboo than five or ten years ago. She highlighted various symptoms like pain, fatigue, and ir