The Insidious Scrutiny of Female Athletes’ Bodies

It has been a phenomenal 2024 Olympics so far for women in sport. Simone Biles became the most decorated American Olympic gymnast while Katie Ledecky became the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history. The U.S. women’s rugby team won an improbable bronze medal with a miracle play in the last seconds of the game. We’ve seen a 58-year-old woman, Chile’s Zeng Zhiying, compete in table tennis and Egypt’s Nada Hafez compete while seven months pregnant in fencing.

But on Thursday in Paris...