Olympic swimmer Cassie Patten is 38 now, a mother of three, yet can still recall the anger she felt at a male coach’s reaction to her being unable to train while on her period.
The 2008 bronze medallist spoke of how one male coach “looked me in the eye and said ‘I’m so disappointed in you'” when she was unable to train through period cramps. “I said ‘you have no idea’.”
And it was a theme shared by many of her fellow guests, made up of famous names – and those just starting out on their elite sport journeys.
Boxer Tia Miah-Ayton, 18, who recently won her first professional fight, said: “I can put on three kilos on my period and if I don’t make my weight I can’t fight.”
Having predominantly male coaches, with less understanding of a woman’s body, was cited as one barrier not just to participation, but elite performance.
However many felt, while more female coaches were needed, there had been improvements.
British track cycling Olympic champion Sophie Capewell explained how an improvement in understanding had helped the women’s squad to develop.
“We aren’t as consistent, periods have an impact, being able to talk has been huge,” she said. “To have an open conversation, a few years ago it wouldn’t have been the case.”
Dr Pippa Bennett, the UK Sports Institute’s director of clinical governance and chief medical officer at the British Paralympic Association, said research on women’s sport was “woefully lacking”.
Physiology expert Dr Emma O’Donnell called for better quality research into menstrual cycles and their effect on performance.
“Despite 40 years of research, we are not any closer to the answer,” she said.
And other body issues faced by female athletes were discussed.
Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, professor of biomechanics and head of a research group in breast health at the University of Plymouth, explained how the right sports bra and support could impact on performance. She said it can shorten a stride by 4cms – over marathon distance that equates to a mile.
She said there was a “disappointing lack of research in this area” and referred to one study in which 46% of women questioned said they left sport because of issues related to their breasts.
However she did say big brands were now investing in research in this area.
Sports kit designed for men remains an issue too – though there have been similar improvements as sport grows more inclusive, guests said.
Body image was also seen as a barrier to taking part in sport, with athletic figures going against societal beauty standards – something guests agreed could change with more prominent role models.
“We have moved on, we are in a better place but there is still a lot of work to do,” said Jenny Henderson, performance manager at England Golf.
