Why do women athletes compete in clothing so skimpy it could be underwear?

[FortiesCromarty]

This occurred to me whilst watching some of the athletics on TV, the women are in small pants and crop tops, yet the men wear vests and shorts, their bodies totally covered.
It can't be a question of that's what clothing gives the fastest time, else the men would be running about in their skimpies.
My DH says he thinks it's fashion, the women have chosen to wear these clothes as they are proud of their bodies and want to fit in with the other female athletes. Yet I do not agree and feel profoundly uncomfortable at the sight of adult women competing in an international event as if they'd forgotten their PE kit and their coaches had made them do the race in their bra and knickers.
What do you feel about it?

[notnowbernard]

Well, I don't feel "profoundly uncomfortable" watching it

Though I suspect they do wearing it

How they refrain from pulling their pants out of their arse cracks mid-race I don't know

[GeekyGirl]

I am in awe of their six packs.

[bulby]

Oh for goodness sake. Why do you assume the woman is not choosing to wear them? It's more likely that a. Men don't wear that type of thing because they'd look like borat wanna bes and b. They actually are choosing to wear them ( women can choose their own clothes these days you know)

[thehairybabysmum]

Personal choice i guess. Though if i had abs like they had i would probably wear similar attire!!

[wukter]

Depends on the sport, I think, the sprinters, hurdlers and high jumpers wear shorter shorts, so there must be some technical reason.
I'd be upset if they were wearing wonderbras or something, but I don't think any athlete at that level is going to jepordise (sp) her success for the sake of fashion/sex appeal.

[badgermonkey]

Well, women need to wear supportive bra tops. For serious athletes, no vest top would provide enough support, so they would end up wearing a bra top + a vest which would be hot and constrictive. On a treadmill in private I like to wear small shorts and a crop top, and I find it much more pleasant to work out in that outfit than baggy stuff - in public though I prefer to cover up more. But then when I go out running I'm not trying to shave milliseconds off my time! Men and women have different bodies and different needs.

[onimolap]

How hairy do you have to be before it affects performance? I know cyclists wax, and the male athletes also look as if they have smooth legs. So perhaps the clinging lycra is to obviate the need to wax thighs, chests and backs? Or is that all twaddle?

The knee-length socks on the high jumper looked a bit pervy, to me, when combined with what looked like good oldfashioned navy knickers.

[nancy75]

i agree with hairybabysmum - if i had those stomach muscles you can bet i would be making sure the whole world saw them!

[ZZZenAgain]

I agree with you, find it looks hideous even though their bodies are fit and nice. Particularly dislike seeing the bum hang out at the bottom of the pants. Just whyx?

Dd is 9 and she says it looks horrible and she'd never do sport dressed like that. I'm not so sure they all want to wear those outfits, it's just the fashion of the times so they have to go with it

[piratecat]

roar at the men looking like Borat !!!

[notnowbernard]

100m runners in mankinis?

[SixtyFootDoll]

I used to run and I used to find it more comfortable not having any material flapping around my midriff.
I used to wear a crop vets and pants and i di have a flat tummy too.
It is really for comfort as far as i am concerend.
And they llok great and good role models too.

[ZZZenAgain]

I don't think they can choose their own clothes, they are competing in the team uniform, that's why it is all the same.

Mind you shotput, hammer, discus - the women wear more

[StuckInTheMiddleWithYou]

Hey, don't knock these women! Physically they are far better role models for young women than skinny super models or surgically enhanced glamour girls.

I used to run competively (a long time ago lol) and the less you have flapping about to get in your way the better.

[OrientCalf]

notnowbernard

[FortiesCromarty]

Ok, if it's truly more comfortable to run in crop top and pants, I'll have to get the image out of my head of the PE teacher saying "You forgot your kit, well you can still do the race in your underwear"

[ronshar]

I would much rather see super fit positive female role models sprinting round a track in a top and short pants than fat girls in bikinis walking through town!!!

These athletes spend years and years training every day. I really think that what they wear to run in is of small importance to them.
If it is comfortable and helps you to go faster then thats what matters.

[Sammyuni]

Women can wear shorts if they want, you will notice that some where them some don't i guess it's more comfortable wearing them. Why do men not wear them well they in their minds would be a laughing stock.

[Sammyuni]

Wear them >.>

[MarshaBrady]

I thought they looked great. Healthy, amazing, some really stunning. The outfits didn't bother me. I suppose as I didn't think 'skimpy', more- athletic.

[EccentricaGallumbits]

if i had legs like that i'd walk around in my pants a lot more often.

[lovely74]

I did a 10k a few years ago and wore short baggy shorts. My thighs were bleeding at the end from all the chafing!!!

It's bloody hot and exercise only makes you hotter so it makes perfect sense to me that they are going to wear as little clothes as possible, no? You'll see that the male sprinters wear completely skin tight stuff too, who can forget the famous "lunchbox"?!

I don't think Zoo magazine has begun to influence our professional athletes just yet...!

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I was just thinking about the era of "lunchboxes". Was not good

[scallopsrgreat]

It is probably to do with the weight of the clothing as well. I am not a runner but a rower and I know the international rowers minimise the amount of weight that they carry in the boat to the extent that they empty water bottles (even chuck them on the side) no extra clothing in the boat; no extra fat on the body etc etc! And they have to propel a boat which is significantly more weight than any of that. So I would imagine runners would be of the same mindset and less clothes would proportionally make more difference to their speed. Not sure why men just don't run in shorts though??