Irish middle-distance runner Emma Moore, who achieved the qualifying standard for the World Indoor Championships this season, has publicly criticized the cult of a lightweight physique among athletes. In interviews with Irish media, she emphasized that being "the thinnest possible" is not synonymous with being the best athlete and threatens both physical and mental health. Her statements are part of a broader debate about athlete health and toxic appearance demands in the world of sports.

Qualification for the World Championships

Emma Moore, an Irish middle-distance running representative, achieved the qualifying standard for the World Indoor Championships this season, marking a significant breakthrough in her career and confirming her form.

Criticism of the cult of a lightweight physique

The athlete speaks openly about the harmful pressure to maintain very low body weight, emphasizing that it often leads to eating disorders and a decline in the body's performance, rather than improved athletic results.

False image on social media

Moore points to social media as a source promoting unrealistic and unhealthy body standards, where athletes present themselves as the "thinnest," creating a toxic environment and misconceptions among young competitors.

Priority on physical and mental health

The runner calls for a change in priorities in elite sports, emphasizing optimal health and body performance, not blind pursuit of minimum weight, aligning with a global trend of paying more attention to athlete well-being.

Irish middle-distance runner Emma Moore, who has just qualified for the World Indoor Championships, has used her success to draw attention to the harmful phenomenon of the cult of a lightweight physique in elite sports. In a series of interviews for major Irish dailies – the Irish Examiner, The Irish Times, and the Irish Independent – the athlete criticizes the pressure placed on competitors to strive to be the "thinnest version of themselves." As she emphasizes, such pressure often backfires, leading to eating disorders, injuries, and a decline in form, rather than improved results. Moore particularly points to the role of social media in perpetuating this toxic message. Athletes often present idealized, slim physiques there, which do not reflect the body's actual needs for achieving maximum performance. The pressure for low body weight in endurance sports such as middle and long-distance running, artistic gymnastics, or figure skating has a long and controversial history. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many cases of eating disorders among female athletes prompted sports federations to introduce stricter health checks and educational programs, but the problem remains current. „Athletes are the leanest version of themselves, but that’s not always the best.” (Athletes are the leanest version of themselves, but that’s not always the best.) — Moore's statements are part of a broader, global debate about the mental and physical health of athletes and changing training priorities. More and more sports federations and organizations are beginning to move away from a rigid, BMI-indicator-only approach to optimizing body weight in favor of more holistic methods that consider individual build, metabolism, and athlete well-being. The Irish runner is thus becoming a voice for a growing number of athletes demanding a healthier and more balanced approach to training and competition.

Mentioned People

  • Emma Moore — Irish middle-distance runner who qualified for the World Indoor Championships