Do we live under fucking Sharia Law?
I was about to make my own thread on this when I saw this one was already started so figured I’d put it here. I was going to have that be the subject to get some clicks. Yes, hyperbolic I know, but I had a pithy line I was going to put that if WTC ever starts Ironman Iran, we could have a special local rule exception. But you know what, out of curiosity I looked it up - and under Sharia of course the woman have to be covered damn near head to toe - but for men they are only required to be covered from their navel to their knee! So even if we hold a race under the fucking Taliban, we’re still good shirtless! Just hike your shorts up a couple of inches or wear a race belt just over your waist and no DQ! But yet USAT in their infinite wisdom has joined WTC and ITU with the most ridiculous rule in the world.
This is just so unbelievably infuriating. As I commented on one post on social media about the whole “ZipperGate” deal with Matthew Sharpe who said Matthew should consider himself lucky as in some countries he could be arrested, I replied that in some countries you can be executed for being gay or practicing your religion. That doesn’t make it right. This is the most ridiculous rule in any sport on the planet and as a triathlete for nearly 40 years, I am so fucking embarrassed for my sport that Matthew did not stand on that podium and get the money and accolades he deserves. (I had no dog in that fight - to be honest I barely recognized his name when I saw the results)
There was one woman on this post who castigated Matthew for not knowing the rule, saying how could he not know it since it was illegal most everywhere, ITU, WTC, USAT, etc. I was going to respond by saying that at least the USAT isn’t so ass backwards, as I know I have always raced shirtless in USAT races since long before it was even called USAT, including at Nationals as recently as 2019. But just to be sure I wasn’t wrong, I checked the USAT rules and they now have made it illegal as well. Disgusting.
I read Tim Don’s comments on the ZipperGate matter and he was saying how the rule needed to be cleaned up, because either way at least he wasn’t exposing himself as we did in the old days. SO THE FUCK WHAT?
I have lived in the conservative midwest most of my life, and for a few years in the Bible Belt south in the '80s, and I am certain there is a not a place in this country where it is not 1000% acceptable for men to run shirtless in the summer heat, as I have done all my life. Hell even in Florida under Governor Draco there are men running shirtless everywhere. And those are on busy thoroughfares in front of the masses driving by, not on the mostly closed roads with mostly just fans or families of the athletes where triathlons take place.
Someone mentioned in a comment on here it was because of the Olympics because some conservative countries have influence. So what. People swim and dive shirtless in the Olympics, and I’m sure a couple of other sports that don’t come to mind now. And for fuck’s sake, if it’s about modesty it’s perfectly legal in triathlon for men to race in tiny little Speedos that show every outline of their junk, but Mercy Me they can’t show their nipples? What the fuck kind of logic is that?
And I’m quite certain there isn’t a running road race in this country where you can’t run shirtless - even in the huge big city marathons with millions of spectators and a television audience. And every race anywhere in the country in the summer heat there is a good chunk of the male field that races shirtless.
I know it may seem like a small point to some, but it is just so ridiculous and completely without logic that to me is just speaks to how out of touch with reality people running the sport are and it really is just an embarrassment to our sport. If any of you have friends that are competitive runners or swimmers - tell them about why Matthew Sharpe didn’t get paid for third place in Maine after that awesome performance and isn’t even listed in results and see what their reaction is.
