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Former world No 1 Garbine Muguruza, Spain’s tennis sensation, recently faced an unexpected and intrusive question at the Laureus Awards in Madrid. The question, posed by a journalist on the red carpet, insensitively targeted Muguruza’s physical appearance and training regimen, implying that she had let herself go since retiring from professional tennis at the age of 30.

Muguruza, known for her grace and poise on and off the court, handled the situation with remarkable composure. She responded by emphasizing the importance of enjoying life and staying healthy, rather than conforming to unrealistic beauty standards or societal expectations. Her dignified response has since sparked widespread debate and admiration for her resilience in the face of such scrutiny.

This incident sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexism and body shaming in Spain’s sports culture. From the unsolicited kiss by former football federation chief Luis Rubiales to the recent questioning of Muguruza’s physique, female athletes continue to face unjust scrutiny and objectification in the public eye.

The repercussions of such behavior extend beyond individual athletes, impacting the overall participation and representation of women in sports. Research has shown that body image-related concerns contribute to girls dropping out of sports, while elite athletes like Muguruza and others face online abuse and pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards.

As Muguruza’s experience highlights, it is crucial to respect and celebrate athletes for their achievements and talents, rather than reducing them to their physical appearance. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to challenge and dismantle harmful stereotypes and biases in sports and society as a whole.