That having a bikini wax shouldn't be a necessary part of any job?

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

I've been watching the amazing gymnastics at the olympics and every time I can't help but wonder if they are all happy to have such revealing gym costumes. I would hate to have a camera doing a slow mo when I'm legs akimbo in the air wearing so little even if the camera angles seem to be discrete.

I have tried to look up if there is a rule about the cut and if they wanted could they wear little shorts but I can't find anything. I did read if they remove a wedgie they get marked down?!

AIBU to think that in this day and age it seems a bit odd that these elite athletes need to be so scantily clad and that they probably have more to worry about than waxing, ingrowing hairs and itchiness in the run up to the games?

They wouldn't be 'marked down' as such, not when they're allowed.

They would be told that the "national team costume is A" them they would probably say "ok" I'm sure they are aware of allowed alterations as are most athletes who compete, they also don't cost you marks as they are permitted. So if a team mate decided to wear something different that did not cost a team points, I couldn't see why not.

'And that's an argument for keeping skimpy outfits and zero visible body hair compulsory for elite athletes, how? hmm'

Because maybe, just maybe, of their own free choice, they want to show off their muscular bodies and want the first thing people see is their muscle/build and not a bunch of hair. That's certainly what drove me to get rid of my body hair, which I had in major abundance. I wanted to show it all off, yes, I certainly did.

And maybe, just maybe, particularly if they have a lot of body hair like me, they find it hot and uncomfortable during training, it might be caught on things, trap sweat more, something they might find undesirable.

Wouldn't they have to wear official kit provided by the national body so that it matched the leotards? So there would be a choice provided of leotard, leotard with short legs, a unitard, or leotard plus leggings/tights. Is that choice always available?

In some countries yes speak for religious or personal reasons, but if there is no demand for it then no, so if the women are happy and wanting to compete in the standard leotard that's all a team would order for cost purposes.

So without asking every gymnast on that floor if they are happy with the leotard fashion were all guessing aren't we?

So everyone is getting their knickers in a twist over a perceived patriarchal sport where young women are "forced" to shave/wax and wear "inappropriate" attire

everyone is getting their knickers in a twist over a perceived patriarchal sport where young women are "forced" to shave/wax and wear "inappropriate" attire confused

I also thinking that more of the male gymnasts seem to be shaved nowadays too (underarms) don't they.

Perhaps the international organisation should insist that all choices are always made available by each national organisation, so as to facilitate free choice of outfit. They could subsidise it if necessary.

But there is no need, athletes and coaches are always aware of permitted clothing choices, so they would just say "Susy wears a longer leotard as per regulation" but Mayne Dust actually prefers her standard one.....we will never know.

Everyone is making assumptions, and you know the problem with that? You make and ass out of u and me!

Oh and here are the British Gymnastics regulations from their handbook on attire.

I've watched a lot of the events but haven't felt the need to look at the athletes' nether regions . I've been preoccupied watching what they're doing rather than wearing or epilating.

Because maybe, just maybe, of their own free choice, they want to show off their muscular bodies and want the first thing people see is their muscle/build and not a bunch of hair. That's certainly what drove me to get rid of my body hair, which I had in major abundance. I wanted to show it all off, yes, I certainly did

Male body builders shave their hair because they want people to see their muscles.
Female athletes who have worked hard to get the bodies they have, more than likely want the same thing.

Or they might not, as the previous poster has said, assumptions are all that is being discussed. I'm glad that lots of people are convinced that the gymnasts really do have free choice to dress how they feel comfortable.

Well, that was all profoundly depressing.

voyage

On the whole, I athletes are no longer naked.

Oiled might be interesting though...

i am glad that athletes are no longer naked.

As an interesting comparison, the cycling team were told to stop waxing and shaving to limit saddle sores. Once the women opened up about the pain, the team also approached the authorities to allow an increased saddle angle to help too. Seems to have worked well!

Original Olympians were all make competitors and spectators...

*male ffs

I'm going to angle my saddle down when I go out on my bike later. Thank you to all the people who linked to that article I would never have thought of that.

The women's gym outfits have been bothering me too, especially the fleshy shiny red on the behinds of the USA team. They are very little-girlie and I know it's traditional but I'd like to know more about how popular the leotard thngs are with the competitors. Do they have a choice? A one-piece could also give the leg-lengthening if the design was good.

Shall we ask why the female beach volley ball players compete in bikinis when the males wear knee length baggy shorts and voluminous vests?

It's not that I want the men to wear speedos, but I feel the women are being objectified somewhat.

Hence the use of the gala suit in swimming. They're marketed as 'fast suits' : streamlined to enhance speed. But they also cover up hairy Marys

Thats so you want the entire of sport to change so a minority group within a gender can be happy?

Around 120 years ago people are saying "So you want the entire constitution and voting system to change so a minority group within a gender can be happy?" And around 70 years ago people were saying "So you want the whole employment and tenancy systems to change so a minority group within a few races can be happy?" I had hoped we had worked out by now that equality is desirable without having to jump through that sort of hoop.