These Olympians Are Breaking Period Stigma

Last updated 2/25/2026

The stigma around menstruation in sports is still alive today.

In February 2023, golfer Tiger Woods slipped a tampon into the hand of fellow player Justin Thomas after outdriving him on the ninth hole during the first round of the Genesis Invitational. Not only did Woods insinuate that Thomas played like a girl, but he did so by reinforcing the *inaccurate* idea that the menstrual cycle is an impediment to one’s athletic performance. 

At Aunt Flow, we believe that the only way to normalize menstruation is to talk about it. In recent years, the conversation around periods in sports has been evolving, with more athletes breaking the silence surrounding this natural biological process. Several famous athletes around the world are doing just that. 

Here is a list of Olympians actively challenging the stigma around periods: 

Amber Glenn

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn openly shared that she was competing while on her period. After her free skate, she said the following:

I’m on my period right now, so it’s always really hard, especially when you’re wearing something like this and have to perform in front of the world. That’s hard and people don’t talk about it. It’s something that we don’t really talk about a lot for female athletes, and I think it should be a topic of discussion.

Megan Rapinoe

Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Knix has offered to pay athletes to talk about their periods in an effort to reduce period stigma. The face of this campaign? Former Olympian Megan Rapinoe, who retired from professional soccer last year. The campaign “Sport Your Period” calls attention to the fact that periods are a reality for nearly all menstruating athletes. 

There’s not often been much space to talk about your cycle or how it interacts with you in sports, and I love this campaign from Knix. It celebrates that part of our journey as people, as athletes—during the Olympics or in the league—and to talk about it and normalize it is very powerful.

https://youtu.be/ugjmXFmBYe4?si=aIESNvNfBxpTKb8K

Serena Williams

Tennis legend Serena Williams has never shied away from discussing women’s health issues, including menstruation. In interviews, the 4-time Olympic gold medalist has talked about the physical and emotional challenges of competing while on her period.

Lydia Ko

After being asked about her apparent discomfort while playing in the final rounds at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship, the double Olympic medallist and top-ranked New Zealand golfer was honest, saying “It’s that time of the month. I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you…” That moment marked the beginning of her push to normalize conversations about menstruation in sports. 

The younger me would say it’s embarrassing, but now I don’t think it is that embarrassing to say it anymore because I’m not the only one, right? I hope that with that many more people don’t have to necessarily come forward and say, ‘Hey, I’m on my period.’ But to know that it’s okay and that like all so many of us are like facing those kinds of physical changes is a natural human thing.

Aly Raisman

Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman has used her platform to address various issues, including her period. Raisman has spoken about what it’s like to compete while on her period, along with the importance of understanding one’s body and menstrual cycle to maintain peak performance. 

Fu Yuanhui

Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui made headlines during the 2016 Rio Olympics when she openly discussed her period after competing in the women’s 4x100m medley relay. After the race, Fu candidly shared that she was menstruating and dealing with period cramps during the relay.

“Actually, my period started yesterday evening,” Fu told Chinese channel CCTV after missing the podium in the 4x100m medley relay women’s final. “That’s why I feel very weak and tired, but this is not an excuse. At the end of the day, I simply did not swim very well.”

Kayla Imrie

On International Women’s Day in 2021, Olympic canoeist Kayla Imrie spoke out about the need to change the conversation around periods in sport. Imrie has also been very open about her struggles with heavy menstrual bleeding, which was eventually diagnosed as menorrhagia. In sharing her personal journey in order to start a wider dialogue, the New Zealand athlete encourages other menstruators to take agency over their own menstrual health.

The purpose of these conversations outweighs the discomfort because it’s going to change that social stigma. It’s natural. Everyone’s got it. And [the social stigma] is slowly changing. If my story helps someone who might have an issue feel more comfortable to be able to speak up, then we’re all winning.

Support menstrual equity and stay active with confidence using Aunt Flow period care