Sarah Voss - sexualisation of costumes in gymnastics

She looks great. The current “normal” leotards are awful, far too skimpy to stay out without being glued into place. When I did dancing as a young child the legs were so so much lower - the whole hip was covered and no danger of it slipping between the bum cheeks or into the vulva which is what I feel the modern ones will do at any moment.

Just for another perspective, some forms of gymnastics absolutely need a high level of skin to equipment ratio.
For example in pole fitness and other aerial sports you need a lot of skin to stick to the pole. Real experts can do it in leggings but you have to have incredible strength, even more so than usual to manage it safely.
Obviously not the case for horizontal gymnastics though, but that's why some costumes seem skimpy- it's needed to execute the moves sometimes.
Still, hurrah for more choice.

I thought good for her too.

I wasn't keen on the description of the rules that said that gymnasts were allowed to wear full length costumes, as long as they were of an elegant design. Something about the fact that they had to be 'elegant' still seems like it's a bit too much about appearance. If they said it had to be fitted so that form could be seen, or whatever the actual reason is, then that would be different. I think they probably do look elegant, whatever the design is, but I don't like that that is the rule. The men presumably don't have to have elegant design on theirs - they just have to have what is practical for being able to do the moves, and being able to be judged on correct form.

Love this. My DS does gymnastics, and even at 7 his clothes are so much more practical and comfortable than the spangly leotards the girls wear. (Not that I’m anti spangle bu any means).

His clothes are not a barrier or a source of embarrassment ever. For some of the girls in his group, you can see them already uncomfortable wearing skin tight and high cut clothes. For developing bodies it’s too much of a lens.

Long overdue. The high cut leotards that disappear up the backside are neither practical nor attractive - which is why the men dont have to wear them. As the BBC coyly says, gymnasts lose points if they are seen pulling the fabric down.

Also time to stop the compulsory thick makeup too, again not an issue for men. Then back to slowing real body shapes and non damaging moves and gymnastics might just be something you'd want your daughters to do.

Good for her. Long overdue that girls and women should be able to dress as they choose. And given all the revelations about levels of abuse of young women gymnasts in the sport it's long overdue that they should take back some control.

Good. I hope ballet will take note too. Some schools still don’t allow girls to wear knickers under their leotards. (My dd always did, even at vocational school)

Looks great good to see this

Looks far more comfortable and practical to my untrained eye.

That looks great, I hope it becomes more standard.

Fab news, and yes, about time.

I’m all for the fuller covering but I’m not sure how safe they would be to wear on the asymmetric bars. I do wonder if they train on the bars in these.

It looks so much better! Good on her.

Well I do prefer her outfit but I was concerned reading the article .. which seemed to imply that covering up was the right response to protect from abuse

One of the BGA claims is that they need to see the muscle definition on their thighs apparently they don't need to for men.

And I always thought it was really unfair that women were meant to get rid of any trace of pubic hair AND wear skimpy outfits whereas men could get away with it - but were also allowed more coverage. This applies to bikinis/swimming trunks too.

They all train in full length leggings, Voss said in the article. If it wasn't safe then it wouldn't be part of the existing rules for competition wear.

Good for her! I remember quitting gymnastics at puberty and hating competitions as I couldn't wear my shorts over the top

I think the leotards are too skimpy to be comfy but I am wondering whether this isn't a bit slippery? I'd have thought that knee length (like the men) would be more practical.

Hoo sodding ray.

About bloody time too.

It has taken far too long for a female gymnast to be given support by her NGB and team to do this. Good for her and her teammates for saying they too will make the change.

Next - beach volleyball!

They should be allowed to wear what is comfortable for them - full length, traditional or something in between. Athletes get to choose, some wear very skimpy others wear nearly knee length or even full length about time this flexibility was introduced to all sports (at the very minimum women should be allowed the same coverage as men!)

I think it looks much more elegant.

Good on her.

And yes, as monkey said - you would have to wonder why anyone would object...

I think it looks lovely, and I find it ridiculous that this isn’t already the norm!

I always wondered why tiny leotards were necessary. The men don't wear them, do they?