“For the longest time, my boobs put me off running – and had I not found the one bra that actually fits me, I’d not be running now,” says Faima, a twenty-something writer based in London. 

Despite living for years near one of the busiest canals and parkruns in the country, she’s only just started lacing up.

“If I didn’t have that bra and a tight body warmer-type running vest that helps keep things in place, I wouldn’t run at all. 

“I still worry about the elasticity of my breasts and whether they’re moving too much while running.”

Faima’s not wrong to worry – adidas has been working closely with the leading Breast Biomechanics Research Institute at the University of Portsmouth.

They’ve discovered that if not supported properly, our breasts can experience the same G-force as an F1 driver when we run.

The collaboration is part of their new Bra Revolution campaign, which is highlighting the importance of the right sports bra and the impact on female participation in sport.

The research by adidas has found that a whopping 90% of women may be wearing the wrong size sports bra.

It’s no wonder that girls and women are so put off moving, if they don’t have access to properly fitted bras. 

In fact, that same research found that just under half of schoolgirls have said that their breasts affect their participation in sports.

We go from self-conscious girls cowering in PE, to students who ‘don’t do sport’ and finally, women who only see fitness as a form of torture.

Maria*, an MP now in her 50s, tells Stylist that despite “quite liking running”, she doesn’t do it often because she dreads having to get into her running kit.

Her newest bra had a front zip – chosen because she struggled with the back mechanisms on her other tops.

The new offering didn’t, however, make her life easier: “It left horrible welts on my chest which took several months to fade,” she recalls.

Those of us who run, gym or box know that in order to get out and enjoy a session, you’ve got to feel invincible to begin with.

Everything from your bra to your socks and hairstyle matter – what you wear is your armour for tackling training.

“Wearing the right bra is so important for boxing because boxing is all about control and movement within the ring. Without the right support you’d be affected greatly,” explains pro-boxer Caroline Dubois.

It’s not just about women being put off engaging with sport and fitness from a young age, but those of us who do enjoy movement also not being as comfortable and supported as we should be.

“When I step in the ring and feel good and supported, it takes a load off my mind and I can focus on what matters – fighting.”

For Dubois, one issue is the fact that many of us are so focused on training, that we fail to take the time to understand our bodies.

We’re all too keen to get out and get burning through the miles or smashing HIIT session after HIIT session, but we don’t actually spend enough time assessing how our bodies feel, change and adapt - or how supporting our body properly leads us to our best performance.

It’s not just the size of our breasts that can be a barrier to finding the right sports kit. Drinks specialist Sam was a decent sprinter at school, but now in her 30s, she lives with a chronic illness that makes fiddling around with bra catches almost impossible.

“I have fibromyalgia and due to the pain in my hands, I find it impossible to wear some sports bras because they’re so tough to get on. As I get older, I need more boob support than ever, but it’s really hard to find anything affordable that does the job.”

Inaccessibility in sport is hardly new – we know that differently-abled people find it hard to access gyms, studios and a lot of clothing.

But when you think about the ways in which the majority of women have been shut out from accessing the proper outfits to work out in, it’s a wonder any of us are running, jumping and dancing at all.

Professional athletes don’t tend to have big boobs – but the average British bra size is 36D. If girls can’t find kit that makes them comfortable, the impact on a well-balanced lifestyle, and therefore their wellbeing, is huge.

It’s why we desperately need sports giants to prioritise fits for all women - and why adidas’ newest range containing 43 styles and 72 inclusive sizes is so welcome. 

Having more choice gives women more power to own their own movement journey, but finding the right fit is just as important. 

Making it easier for all of us, Sports Direct has a new bra finder tool in its flagship Oxford Street store. The tool allows you to input your size and the kinds of activity you enjoy, and suggests the styles and fits most likely to suit your needs.

We don’t have to stick with one old, manky bra that leaves us with blisters and grooves – we can have the most supportive bra for every way we choose to move, regardless of our shape, size or age.

Find the right support for your sport to keep you moving through 2022, and explore Sports Direct’s range of adidas sports bras.