Athletics news - Anyika Onuora opens up on body shaming as young athlete

The British Olympic bronze medallist revealed she used to wear baggy clothes to hide her physique from other sprint girls.

The 34-year-old, who formed an integral part of the British 4x400m team that clinched a spot on the podium in Rio, told the BBC that she felt objectified as a teenager.

"When I started out running I always used to wear the longest shorts because all the girls were trying to wear crop tops and hot pants.

"I was like 'no', at the time you kind of feel objectified because I had an adult body at such a young age.

"I ran a lot with the sprint girls and they were all strong and petite, some were slightly bigger than me. No one really had the same body image as me."

"There were a lot of ups and downs. I remember being told a couple of times that I was fat as well which was tough to go through at such a young age when you want to get better and perform at your best.

"But then you being told by the people up top that maybe you need to lose weight and in your mind you are doing everything in your power to think that you're good enough.

"That was hard to deal with but look at me now!"

But the double European Champion and World Championship bronze medallist hopes to use the experience for the better, to help other children in a similar position to fight body shaming.

"I go into schools and do public speaking, and I have no issues with that because I know, as a black woman, I have been in the exact same position where you're told 'your body features aren't good enough', 'you're too fat', or 'you need to put your body parts away'.

"Even as elite female athletes, we can be the best in the world but it doesn't mean we don't have the same problems.

"I have seen the growth in myself over the years. Now, I love my body and I love what I do, I work hard for this, this is my job, my body is my engine."