Why do female athletes wear what they do?

[800wow]

There aren't any rules (as there have been in some sports) so the women are competing in next to nothing through choice.

Is it comfortable? They all have a amazing bodies, but do they all like being on TV dressed this way? Is it performance? If so, why don't the men also do it?

Is there pressure from sponsors either directly or because the most 'saleable'get more sponsorship or advertising contracts?

I'm genuinely curious as to why they make these choices. I run and I wear less in competition than I do in training but wouldn't find high cut knickers comfortable to run in.

Some women wear short cycling shorts style for running, some cover their shoulders even, it’s definitely a choice to wear the high cut ones

It used to be a good way to spot the DSD middle distance athletes running as women, because for some reason known only to themselves, the DSD athletes always wore shorts rather than the pants middle distance women wore. 🤗

I'm assuming this thread is sparked by the Euros currently happening. I would imagine that these elite athletes have the very best, technically stress and aerodynamic tested outfits. A hundredth of a second gain or loss in a race is the difference between winning/losing or gold/silver etc. I remember Mo Farah talking about the tiny margins in winning a race and the minute changes that these athletes make in order to scrape another hundredth of a second off their time or another cm to jump or whatever.

If they were uncomfortable then they wouldn't be performing at their best. I don't imagine the average person with zero knowledge of aerodynamics or biomechanics would understand - I know I don't know how it all helps but I know that it does.

edit for typo

I follow a runner on SM who was constantly getting questions about why she competes in running knickers. The outcome was, it’s what she feels comfortable in, it’s part of racing for her, it’s what she wore to race since childhood, various other reasons. She trains in short shorts, so not much difference. So, it’s a load of complex things, including cultural, but what it boils down to is that we are still not able to respect women’s bodily autonomy. As far as I’m concerned, they are high performance athletes, they are amazing and they can wear what the fuck they want. I wonder why the men wear long cycling shorts for sprinting, though I suspect it’s got to do with them wearing the maximum performance enhancing fabric they can get away with legally. It doesn’t look comfortable. I’d be taken aback by a Borat thong though.

To get men to watch athletics instead of football?

Our PE kit was PE knickers and vest. Although I hated wearing the knickers for various reasons they were comfortable and practical in all the sports to be honest.

I sure agree with you - completely sexualising them - no need - you can be kust as aerodynamic with lycra shorts - they also need to ban these god awful bikini bottoms that look like a piece of string - what’s wrong with material over the cheeks? I would hate for my bum to be exposed to one and all! Yuk!

I follow a runner on SM who was constantly getting questions about why she competes in running knickers. The outcome was, it’s what she feels comfortable in, it’s part of racing for her, it’s what she wore to race since childhood
This rings true.
As an amateur runner who does the odd race and park run and runs with a club, everyone figures out their own style.
Some women prefer long leggings, some lycra shorts, etc. There's a few women at my local park run that wear very snug lycra knickers and bra top, that's what they figured out is best for them!
One friend wears some kind of outfit which is undershorts with a short skirt on top, almost like a tennis player.
A professional athlete would have figured out what is best for them many years ago.

Female diving suits are even more minimal. Not entirely sure why?

there was a massive backlash by the powers that be a few years ago when women who competed in volley ball went for more modest uniforms ..
Where I live there was a motion to allow female gaa players to wear shorts instead ok skorts
Ofc some ol woman on the board opposed it
So many aunt lydias

Along with things others have mentioned I think there is probably a psychological element to it too. You have your speedy clothes and they feel like these are their speedy clothes. Im no pro athlete but I know when I'm racing for a PB I put on my speedy clothes. I don't wear them other than when I'm trying to get my head completely in the game.

I look at pro female athletes and think how strong and determined they look, I've never once thought of their dress being in any way 'sexy' or trying to be. They all have high necklines and their pants are far more on the granny pant side of things than I'm trying to tantalise men. There's some serious female talent out there, really inspirational yet the only time I ever see them mentioned on mumsnet is people complaining about what they choose to wear.

Surely people just have different bodies and different things are comfortable/look good? I always assume it’s like how I’d dress up for an important conference if I’m speaking, or a media appearance, compared to what I’d wear in the office or (eek) working from home. The competition is the performance, and it’s all over cameras so they want to look good and get coverage that can lead to sponsorship/fame which can be a bridge to a future career etc.

Of course they are not operating in isolation from society and social conditioning but neither are male athletes.

@800wow You seem to be operating on the assumption that the standard female athlete choice of attire is wrong/subversive/degenerate/immodest and that male attire is the default, and correct.

I would ask you why do male athletes choose to wear what they do? Why do male sprinters or cyclists choose to wear shorts so tight that you can clearly see the outline of their genitals and the full curve of their manly thighs and calves? Why do male runner long distance runners wear tiny flappy shorts and vests which emphasise their, slender, strong physiques?

Or is it only the display of the female body which is distasteful to you?

It's the objectification of women that has pervaded every single part of society. At some point in girls' athletics careers they became separated from the boys - no doubt around puberty - by clothes that were designed to show off their bodies in a way that boys weren't expected to or pressured into doing. This pressure comes from many places but it's always there - and it's a brave young woman who stands up and says no when her peers, coaches, sponsors, governing bodies and the wider society are all saying that it's not enough to be a fast runner - your bare bum cheeks also have to be hanging out of your pants when you run and your body has to be on show.

I couldn't understand the gaa skorts. My sporting prowess was rounders in gym knickers...the olden days equivalent of modern athletics kit. Although the aertex tops have been jetissoned.

@800wow
But they don’t all wear the same style of clothing. I have just looked at women’s 800m semis and they all wore different bottoms. Some wore bikini like bottoms, one wore small shorts and one wore a one piece suit similar to a swimming costume. I assume each athlete chooses a style which works best for their performance.

Male swimmers !

Fucking hell. It must be exhausting being so obsessed with athletes bums and their outfits.

It’s obvious you think the female athletes sportswear is “inappropriate”. Just say it. What a pointless thing to ponder about.

For someone who says about the science, your posts sure say otherwise! Let women be.

There is an absolute obsession with looking at and talking about womens butt cheeks on mumsnet. It doesn't matter how amazing, strong, dedicated a woman is she is reduced down to her body parts on here. It's depressing.

In ancient Greece they used to do the Olympics in the nude.

What is it you really want to say @800wow ? Just type it out fgs.

FYI, they choose what they feel most comfortable in. Loose, flappy clothing gets in the way. Thats why when you watch Gymastics they are all wearing different amount of coverage. It is what is most comfortable for each individual.

What do you wear to the gym if you go? I wear fitted everything so I dont feel material pulling etc. No high leg pants for me though as I personally like the tops of my legs covered. The women who wear high legged pants obviously don't care about that. Good for them if it aides their performance.

This! 🤣🤣

We should campaign for male athletes to be able to wear tiny little high-cut knickers (anatomically suitable ones of course). If the fabric in the leg crease is a disadvantage, why should men be disadvantaged?

Maybe it's so the trans women stand out?