New partnership to keep teens and tweens in the water

IN the lead up to this month’s Age and Open Nationals at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, Swimming Australia has forged a partnership with Eltee Sydney to break down the menstrual barriers facing girls and women in swimming.

Puberty, and the start of periods, is a time when girls’ participation in grassroots sport falls off sharply and then continues through the pathway system which is why Eltee Sydney has become the period-safe swim underwear partner of Swimming Australia.

In 2023, Eltee Sydney surveyed more than 2300 Australian tween and teenage girls about their participation in sport and the research found 67.6 per cent of girls have quit or avoided swimming due to challenges tied to period management.

A UK Government survey (Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls Tackling Teenage Disengagement) in 2022 of more than 4000 teenagers mirrored these findings and found of girls in the survey who used to be sporty, 78 per cent said they avoided sport when they had their period.

Of girls who avoided exercise on their periods, 73 per cent said it was due to pain and 62 per cent did so out of fear of leakage.

Swimming legend Cate Campbell has previously shared the performance struggles she has experienced managing her periods and Dolphin alumni and Swimming Australia National Wellbeing and Engagement Manager Linley Frame said this partnership was an important step to keeping more girls in the water.

“These can help girls and women be empowered to manage their periods in ways that will enable them to continue participating without any concerns due to the seamless design that is completely invisible under their swimwear,” she said.

Australia-owned and operated, Eltee Sydney was founded by mum Sarah Greenaway, who was inspired by her own daughter after the teenager started avoiding squad training after menstruation began.

“Her complete 180-degree attitude change towards getting in the pool when her cycle started kickstarted my mission to help girls stay confident and engaged in the sport they love,” Greenaway said.

“If you look at the female leaders in any field; business, politics, innovation, you’ll see that the vast majority of them were involved in competitive sport as youths.

“UnderSwim doesn’t just keep girls in the pool, it also safeguards them from missing out on myriad crucial skills and tools girls derive from sport that they can set them up for success in later life”.

Greenaway said the benefits of Eltee Sydney period-safe swimwear included:

1. UnderSwim products are PFAS chemical free – they are OEKO-TEX® ‘Standard 100’ certified, which means they are rigorously tested for harmful substances from yarn to the finished product.
2. Eltee products are water and chlorine-resistant for longevity.
3. Period-free swimwear can help girls and women be empowered to manage their periods in ways that will enable them to continue their participation and not feel ashamed or embarrassed.
4. UnderSwim swimwear have a high absorption capacity, holding up to 3 tampons, 4 regular pads, or 15ml of flow, ensuring comfort and confidence.

Eltee Sydney’s two-year commitment with Swimming Australia to supporting inclusivity and accessibility for young female swimmers across the country will include being onsite at the  Australian Age Championships at Brisbane Aquatic Centre starting next week.