Triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne criticised after period blood seen in race photo

British athlete Emma Pallant-Browne finished fourth in The Professional Triathletes Organisation’s European Open held in Ibiza on May 6, yet when she posted a photo to Instagram, a certain group of followers couldn’t get past the blood.

A male triathlete suggested the photo should have been cropped so it couldn’t be seen.

“Not the most flattering photo of Em Pallant – surely you can crop it a bit better,” he wrote in a comment.

The sportswoman, who has won 18 half ironman championships, podiumed 33 times and claimed silver in the world championships, responded in epic style.

“Thanks for caring but definitely something I’m not shy to talk about because it’s the reality of females in sport,” Pallant-Browne responded.

She added that while she was hopeful the heaviest day of her period wouldn’t fall on race days, it was impractical to assume it would never happen.

While acknowledging she owed her male followers no explanation for the natural occurrence, she explained no menstrual product was sufficient for races longer than three hours.

“So just as someone might get gut issues in a race, I have to suck it up and give what I have and not be afraid to talk to women who have the same problem,” she wrote.

In a subsequent post about the fanfare drummed up by the initial photo, she went into further detail about her race suit and why she was compelled to speak out following backlash.

“This is true female sport and the more barriers we can break through the better,” she wrote, adding that she would consider giving menstrual cups “another go” after receiving kind advice.

Fielding questions about why she chose to race in her swimsuit, she revealed she had previously overheated and passed out in hot races, which was a bigger risk on her period when her body temperature was higher.

Her riding position on her bike had also contributed to the visibility of the blood, she said.

“I have a full length suit for the cooler races in dark colours but the light colours we were experimenting with for the cooling effect. It is dark at the bottom and at the back but my bike position has changed and now I roll more forward,” she explained.

Pouring water over herself at aid stations typically “did the trick”, but “if it doesn’t you end up with one photo like this”.

The suggestion she should edit the photo wrongly implied “there is something wrong with it,” she said.

“There really is nothing wrong. It’s natural, and coming from eating issues as an endurance runner when I was growing up where I didn’t have my period, I now see it as beautiful,” she wrote.

“So if you have a photo like this, save it, cherish it, remember how you performed on a tough day because one day you might just be able to help someone else with it.”