Irish rower Sanita Puspure has spoken about the impact that comments about female athletes' appearance can have, and implored young girls to keep a healthy body image.
Puspure spoke to Off The Ball following Annalise Murphy's comments this week, where she spoke about her struggles with body image and diet.
Sanita Puspure on body image
"Coaches really need to be careful working with girls, especially at a young age," said Puspure.
"You just never know what kind of an impact it is going to leave on a person.
"Any small comment can do quite a lot of damage. Coaches definitely have to be careful about what they say, if they do have any concerns then they should be talking to parents instead of an athlete, especially at junior level.
"That should be illegal in general, I feel. Even weighing an athlete at junior level should be not allowed at all.
"The main thing is to stay healthy and fit. Period. That's it."
Social media
Puspure believes that unhealthy body images are, in part, coming from the influence of social media.
"I feel that social media is not sending the right message for the girls. I have seen many apps that pop up randomly on Instagram and all you see is fitness apps.
"That's fine, but why do they all have to be in sports bras and without a top? Is it really that hot all the time? What's happening? Is it really hard to keep the shirt on?
"There are a lot of young girls watching those perfect bodies doing sit-ups or squats and getting the message that they have to be exactly the same, but they don't.
"It is a touchy subject for me because I have teenagers at home. I don't want them worrying about eating too much and then not eating at all.
"It is a slippery slope."
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