BYU cross country team sparks bitter religious debate after posting photos of scantily-clad female athletes
BYU’s national powerhouse cross country program has ignited a fierce religious debate after sharing photos of its athletes training in sports bras and spandex.
The controversy erupted after the team’s social media accounts posted images from recent workouts during an unseasonably warm stretch of weather in Provo, Utah.
While the minimal attire, running in sports bras, spandex shorts, and shirtless for men, is standard practice across collegiate track and field to prevent overheating, several members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints questioned whether it violates the faith’s core standards of modesty.
The debate gained significant traction on social media when an LDS member, posting under the handle @lds_spence, singled out the women’s team in a post that has racked up more than 1 million views on X.
‘I know that it’s not cool to bring up modesty. But is this really necessary for BYU students to wear this for running?’ the user asked.
He followed up by sharing pictures of the men’s roster running without shirts, writing: ‘Now to be fair I found a picture of the men practicing and I also don’t think this is modest.
BYU has ignited a fierce religious debate after sharing photos of its female athletes training in sports bras and spandex. (Pictured: Members of the BYU women’s team after winning the team title during the NCAA cross country championships in 2024)
‘It’s one thing to run without a shirt on, it’s another to post pictures of it to social media.’
The criticism opened the floodgates to a polarizing debate within the faith.
While some traditional LDS members agreed that student-athletes representing the Church-owned university should wear more coverage, others pushed back, arguing that training gear is strictly functional and should not be inappropriately sexualized.
One user on X wrote: ‘My husband’s cousin is one of the best runners in the nation and attends BYU, and I’m always wondering how those girls feel about running without proper clothes on.’
‘BYU has sold its morality. It’s a corporation now,’ another added.
However, one said: ‘When running you want not a lot of drag and high skin exposure to let sweat evaporate for cooling Makes total sense I think the outfits are fine and I’ll criticize Mormons for another but this is fine’.
Official LDS teachings urge members to dress modestly to honor their bodies and avoid styles that draw improper attention.
However, Church guidance does recognize that athletic activities often require specialized clothing that might not be suited for everyday wear, leaving room for individual discretion while encouraging members to cover up when feasible.
BYU made history in 2024 by becoming the first program in more than two decades to sweep both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I national cross country team titles in the same season, with both squads currently ranked inside the national top 10 for 2026.
