![\"\u2018Where](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/-Instagram-hollyaarcher.jpg\")
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Marathon Achievement Overshadowed by Outfit Criticism<\/p>\n
British middle-distance runner Holly Archer completed her first-ever marathon at the 2025 TCS<\/a> London Marathon with a strong time of 2 hours and 39 minutes. The 31-year-old, who won silver in the 1500m at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships, finished as the fourth British woman in the elite category. The April 27 event saw a record 56,640 runners cross the finish line.However, instead of her athletic performance making headlines, much of the online attention focused on her race-day attire, professional running briefs known in the industry as \u201crun buns.\u201d Social media commenters flooded Archer\u2019s post-race video with remarks questioning her outfit.Some said she looked \u201cuncomfortable,\u201d while others compared the briefs to a bikini. One user asked, \u201cWhere\u2019s her clothes?\u201d and another mocked, \u201cThere\u2019s lots of shops in London you should check them out they have loads of clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n Archer Responds to Backlash with Defiance<\/p>\n In response, Archer posted a follow-up video on TikTok sarcastically asking, \u201cShould I have worn a tracksuit?\u201d She also addressed the weather conditions during the race, noting it was around 75\u00b0F (24\u00b0C) with 78% humidity \u2014 conditions that justified wearing minimal, breathable gear. Frustrated by the focus on her appearance, Archer responded bluntly: \u201cFu*k the lot of yeehh? Give me a break!\u201dDespite criticism, she proudly reflected on the experience on Instagram<\/a>, calling it \u201ccrazy\u201d and unforgettable. \u201cThe crowds, the noise, the energy, it\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget,\u201d she wrote. Acknowledging that she didn\u2019t meet her target time, Archer added, \u201cMy time wasn\u2019t what I came here to do, BUT \u2026 before we judge, it was HOT. Bloody hot!\u201d<\/p>\n Double Standards and Online Support<\/p>\n The backlash highlighted the double standards female athletes still face. While Archer\u2019s outfit aligns with what women in elite track and long-distance running have worn for decades, it became a focal point for criticism. One comment read: \u201cCrazy how the guys can do this not in a bikini.\u201d Another implied men perform better because they wear more clothes.Supporters quickly rallied behind Archer. \u201cAnyone moaning about what you\u2019re wearing doesn\u2019t understand the magnitude of running a marathon in 2 and a half hours,\u201d one fan wrote. Another added, \u201cAs if you\u2019ve ran a marathon in that incredible time and people are choosing to comment on your clothing\u2026 Girl you\u2019re amazing and I\u2019m inspired.\u201d Others praised her fitness: \u201cIf I had abs like yours I would wear that daily. Not just on race days.\u201d One user offered genuine curiosity: \u201cWhat is the reason for the bikini-like bottoms\u2026 why are they better than running shorts?\u201d<\/p>\n A Broader Issue in Women\u2019s Sport<\/p>\n Archer\u2019s experience fits into a broader discussion about gender bias in athletics. Despite progress, societal expectations about women\u2019s appearances persist. According to 2023 data, 97% of women believe they are judged on how they look, and 61% have received negative comments or abuse about their appearance.In closing her Instagram post, Archer emphasized her mindset: \u201cI came for a time, and I fell short. I also came to NOT give up, and I absolutely didn\u2019t.\u201d Her performance, determination, and response to critics reinforce her status not only as an elite athlete but also as a voice against outdated norms in sport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Marathon Achievement Overshadowed by Outfit Criticism British middle-distance runner Holly Archer completed her first-ever marathon at the 2025…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85280,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,393,41037,4884,41036,459,257,41035,41034,5987,41033,449,16,15,41032,1823],"class_list":{"0":"post-85279","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-gender-bias-in-athletics","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-holly-archer","13":"tag-instagram","14":"tag-london","15":"tag-marathon-attire-controversy","16":"tag-run-buns","17":"tag-tcs","18":"tag-tcs-london-marathon-2025","19":"tag-tiktok","20":"tag-uk","21":"tag-united-kingdom","22":"tag-womens-sports-criticism","23":"tag-world-health-organisation"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114473616245366704","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85279\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}