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People on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging service, immediately started wondering if Fu would “turn the pool red.” Why? Tampon use just isn’t a big thing in China. According to a market survey by Cotton Inc., only two percent of Chinese women use tampons.
But Fu got a ton of applause from people everywhere for being so open and honest about her period—a topic that’s been largely taboo for female athletes:
Fu Yuanhui talking about her period is the Olympic hero I can relate to
— Tali Aualiitia (@taliaualiitia) August 16, 2016
Yes!! Normalizing menstruation is so important. Thanks Fu Yuanhui! https://t.co/S699IR80TC via @People
— Emma Banchoff (@emma_banchoff) August 16, 2016
“given the amount of effort expended by men to keep bleeding women in their place, it’s obviously a superpower.” https://t.co/9zPHmGPM9E
— ZOEMAYWHITFIELD (@zoemaywhitfield) August 16, 2016
Petition for Fu Yuanhui do high-profile non-swimming things once #Rio2016 is over so she can stay in all our liveshttps://t.co/Dj4l6MwrnI
— Dean Burnett (@garwboy) August 16, 2016
Very few women actually open up about competing on their periods, but clearly it happens.
Last year, drummer Kiran Gandhi got a lot of attention for free bleeding during the London marathon. British tennis player Heather Watson also said last year that she thinks she lost in the first round of the Australian Open because she had her period. “I think it’s just one of these things that I have, girl things,” she told the BBC, after suffering from dizziness, nausea, and low energy levels that were so intense, she had to call a doctor to the court.
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Fellow British tennis player Tara Moore also said it’s a shame that women’s periods are taboo. “Women’s monthly issues seem to be one of those subjects that gets swept under the carpet and is a big secret. I think women do suffer in silence,” she told the BBC, noting that she’s played in six major tournaments while on her period.
The fact that Fu got so much attention for her (awesome) comments shows just how far we have to go when it comes to female athletes discussing their periods. But, the more it happens, the less taboo it will be. You keep doing you, Fu.