To think that female athletes could be in shorts rather than arse-cheek-revealing pants?

And you don't think women sneering about 'arse cheeks' and 'sweaty, smelly, pimply' bodies will turn girls off? There are multiple posts on this thread and many other threads here about just how offensive some women find other women's bldies and how uncomfortable women's bodies make some other women feel.

Insisting that grown women cover up their bodies and wear 'more modest' and quite possibly more uncomfortable clothing isn't the way to attract girls to sport. Telling people to mind their own business and keep their opinions on what other women choose to wear and on how other women's bodies look when they are doing sport or just going about their day so girls don't feel like they are being judged for their choices whether that is a tiny pair of shorts and a sports bra or board shorts and a t-shirt would help more imo.

Proper shorts for all competitors is reasonable and a level playing field, so to speak.

I also think it's going to affect wether young girls join or continue a sport when they know they have those outfits. Maybe they have a choice but who is really comfortable going against the crowd? Would insisting on more modest clothes affect sponsorship?

I loved gymnastics as a kid, i was good at first. I dropped it as soon as I was told it's time to get a leotard. I didn't even ask if there were other options I didn't want to draw attention.

I expect many young girls will not go into sports for similar reasons

Gosh: the last couple of paragraphs of that kind of sum it up. How people are arguing it is somehow objectifying women to allow them some dignity I really don’t know, but some people will argue anything anyway up.

That’s all white and marbled. And not sweaty or pimply or smelly.

Tbh it’s not normal to enjoy the more intimate parts of people that you are not …well, intimate with. And all this talk of improving performance being the reason … Can anyone explain why the volleyball teams have improved performance when it’s all being nom, nom, nommed by their butt crack at the back ? That cannot be performance enhancing.

The clothing rules were changed in response in 2021.

We should listen to athletes but this should be about choice, not criticising the exercise of choice.

People who have been following sports have been seeing these changes. People who are just turning on their televisions now and criticising athletes for showing flesh where they don't want to see it are not listening to athletes about their choices.

"Norwegian Handball Federation President Kåre Geir Lio stated that it has been petitioning for a uniform change since 2006, but were met with threats of fines and disqualifications by the European Handball Federation (EHF). "

From July 2021 article, https://www.beyondsport.org/articles/norway-s-beach-handball-team-challenges-sexist-uniforms/

Isn't that what I said? It's not up to spectators to comment on what athletes wear, and whether or not they like it, or "approve", has nothing to do with it.

So have the athletes themselves complain led about them or are people speaking for them?

Well I know nothing about Team GB or this Holly person, but that was in Rio, which was a few years ago now. One or two people not being happy with the kit doesn't mean everyone else doesn't like it - and they, after all, are the ones wearing it and the ones who matter - not the viewing public.

Yes. Autonomy (not modesty) is what keeps women safe, if anything can.

compared to 20 years ago I think the female athletes definitely choose kit based on their sport and beach volleyball also has choice.
swimmers wear has completely changed to having long leg coverage whereas female runners now wear one pieces as lot more
it is great to see young athletic women demonstrating to the next generation of girls the joy of having a fit and strong body and that there is a sport for everyone

So far at these Olympics, we have had discussion of the Brazilian, American, Japanese and British teams having significant input into their leotard design. That's not to say the others hadn't.

We can see also, in the image below, how German representatives chose their own style. Younger athletes there favour the traditional leotard, given the choice.

I really have not seen anything wrong with the cut of any gymnast's leotard at the Olympics. I am amazed that people are objecting to seeing legs and some lower / outer buttock on display. You'd get more revealing beachwear at M&S any day of the week.

Poor Korbut was raped repeatedly by her coach. She was described as "haggard" by the New York Times at nineteen, because she was past it compared with Nadia Comaneci. She was judged on how girlish she looked in the media - they wanted sweet smiling Olga "playing" on the floor. Meanwhile, she was part of a Soviet team that turned a blind eye to excessive underage smoking and drinking to deal with stress, and saw gymnasts as part of the state's diplomatic strategy.

She was a brilliant gymnast but she is not an example of a woman who was free to make her own clothing choices.

She was also competing on different equipment, under different lighting, 50 years ago, with different fabrics, fashion, conditioning and sports science. The rules of gymnastics were different and the 180 degree leap or split, for example, was less important.

It would be odd if today's gymnasts dressed just like Olga Korbut, and there is no need for them to do so unless they want to. Since her clothing is still within regulation, they could if they wanted to.

How about getting behind our female athletes, who have worked hard for years to get where they are today. These are the kind of role models our kids should be looking up to. I couldn't care less what they wear , as long as they feel comfortable and are confident. Less of the pearl clutching!

If you'd worn shorts would you still have pranced?

I don't know but it could be the gymnasts themselves. I was a dancer (not professional but competitive) and also had severe body image issues and an eating disorder. But I still chose higher cut leotards because they make your legs look longer and slimmer so are actually more flattering. A lower cut might cover more but it doesn't give the same body line. The gymnasts might also feel that the higher cut leotards look better.

Purely anecdotal opinion but all the gymnastics fans I know are female and many are children. The athletes seem to be performing for an overwhelmingly female audience who are in awe of their artistry and skill, not men looking at their butt cheeks. I'm sure there are a few creepy people out there doing that but it's hardly a Baywatch style audience, is it.

I was just watching a video of Olga Korbut performing in a plain white leotard that covers her bottom.
There's no need to have them cut as high as they are.
I wonder who decides that the female gymnast’s leotards are as cut away as they are.

Also, this is more about overall presentation than outfit specifically, but I think this interview quote from Imani Lara Lansiquot shows that these athletes are powerful women in control of their choices and presentation.

We’re such complex people and we’re so big in expressing ourselves through our actions. But even on a superficial level, I remember I had a picture that I posted during the “how it started and how it’s going” trend and it went semi-viral and so many people were messaging me saying “I didn’t know that athletes wore makeup”, “I didn’t know athletes did their hair”, “I didn’t know that they were actually feminine”.
I think that those things are fun, and it showed people that we’re not just like these hulks on the start line – we like to glam up, we like to embrace our femininity and I’m definitely an advocate for that through and through. Race day is like club nights for us, like we’re going out!
I have a whole race makeup routine that is quite serious to me. Last year, I had themes before every race and I would get my followers to choose what theme I would do for my next race, whether that be butterfly nails, or I would have lightning bolts – I had that for British Championships or even flames and I would match my makeup to my nails and people really found that cool.
It’s all part of the confidence for me and I will plan out my hairstyles and my nails before I race and it’s just part of the package of standing on the start line and feeling really fierce and really confident. I love changing my hair all the time. I do get a few questions from more so black girls about how I race with certain hairstyles and what kinds of things I would advise. I think generally just the package of putting some effort into your race day look I’ve definitely seen a lot of people messaging me and reacting off that and really enjoying it.”

Thinking of the similar thread about the gymnasts, I imagine this is how a lot of them feel too. People were saying on that thread that this is sport not arts and performance/appearance shouldn't come into it but, for these athletes, the olympics is a performance for them - the biggest performance of their lives. The number of people who follow their careers between olympics and watch all the other meets is relatively small. Most of us are 4 year fans and the athletes want to make the most of that attention on what several of them have referred to in interview as 'their biggest stage.'

Most men and many women do not want to fuss with their appearance, especially for sport. That's fine allowed. But some men and many women do want to and that should also be fine and allowed.

I think I remember an interview with Jessica Ennis Hill where she was saying that it's the media and camera angles that made her feel uncomfortable in the outfits. When you jump or run (of flip, dive etc depending on the sport), nobody is close enough to you to see your butt cheeks or crotch or anything that would make you uncomfortable. But on TV, the cameras zoom in for close ups and slow motion replays that show everything the audience, judges and fellow competitors do not. Then those close ups are used as stills, blown up and posted all over the internet. I can see why athletes feel uncomfortable with that, even though they are likely to feel perfectly comfortable with their outfit. How many of us feel absolutely fine to wear a bikini at the beach but would be less fine with a camera at butt level following our jog down to the sea?!

I do think they have choice though. Certainly in the athletics. You see a range of outfits. I was surprised how many of the female triathletes chose swimsuits over tri suits. It looked SO painful when they skidded off their bikes onto bare skin! Though I don't suppose a layer of lycra would give them much protection.

I feel uncomfortable actually it's just not for me. When we went to the museums it was breathtaking and it was a different setting Art is Art my mind set was were in a museum it's expected, it's of the time period but I'm just not fussed about being around naked statues, people (unless it's my husband) or scantily clad people. Sport or no sport.

If that's what's floats your boat knock yourself out. I'm sure if a rule was suddenly introduced that you had to be naked at work or be scantily dressed you wouldn't be happy?

Can you explain these “very strict rules” for
swimmers? Knee-suits aren’t mandated, swimmers just wear them because they are fast. The suits that are banned are actually full-body suits, and any material above the waist for male swimmers. So it’s actually suits that cover too much skin that are banned.

And beach volleyball players can wear whatever they want, the rules were changed 3 years ago.

The fear of beautiful athletic bodies on this thread is extraordinary. Please never go to an art gallery or life drawing class.

It is quite surprising, but I suppose there's a stage where coaches and federations have to recognise that athletes are fully informed adults. Could a lot of it be designed to pop / snap off easily? Not my field ...

Ah yeah, I guess they should fuck up their chances of a medal by wearing something less easy to compete in, but more modest.

@winstinsandgins yes, this exactly what I thought re jewellery and nails. I used to dance lots and earrings were a big no no for safety reasons.