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?

Come on Vitreous, that's appalling.

Not all gymnasts do remove hair, so I think it's safe to say similar for non gymnasts.

ok that makes more sense then, devil.

Don't rise to the bait of Vitreous -there's always one.

Also for sports massages apparently!

I hate the men's gym trousers. They look really scruffy. I think they should wear tights, like ballet dancers. You would then be able to appreciate their line properly.

All young women are removing their pubic hair whether or not they are gymnasts. I dont see the point of the thread"

"They aren't, you know."

They are you know... or, at least, 84% are according to research...

"Research" by you?

So, they aren't then.

Case closed.

I was watching the women's diving last night.

Obviously no pubic hair on show there, and you would think it strange if there was.

Don't see that gymnastics should be any different really.

I don't think it's sexist.

All the diving costumes need underwater readjustment. Bit more leg coverage would avoid that for both genders .

I hate longer legs on swimwear, they always roll up, wedge themselves in your creases and need adjusting or have that awful stick to you stuff on the leg bands. If I were a diver I would never choose longer leg coverage. I wouldn't do it for a leo either.

It is undeniable that the outfits that women wear in the sports like beach volleyball and gymnastics contribute to their popularity. Who gave a shit about BV until the women started wearing tiny outfits? No one. But put them in bikinis and suddenly it's a popular sport. And the body types also have a role to play. Women wear pretty tight clothing in weight-lifting too but there aren't photos of them on the front page.

It all contributes to the prevailing culture of celebrating femininity and that women are objects for viewing.

No one is denying that these women are phenomenal athletes.

As for 'they choose to wear the clothes' argument, I would direct you to the comments made by volleyballmum up the thread: "Look. They have a choice. Wear the selected kit, or don't play."

So basically, if you don't want to wear what they want, you don't get to be on the team. Nice choice.

It was started in Hawaii, i doubt they were wearing hazmat suits there.

"“The athletes are allowed to wear long sleeves, they’re allowed to wear shorts, tank tops,” USA volleyball communications director Corinne Calabro told USA TODAY’s For The Win. "

Read more at: nesn.com/2016/08/reason-olympic-womens-beach-volleyball-players-wear-bikinis-actually-is-practical/

The weather is also often 95 or more in the shade and they are exercising hard in full sun (I've seen these athletes at our local olympic training center and they look hot!). I'm sailing this afternoon in Southern California and am debating how little clothing I can get away with without risking sun burn and abrasions.

"So basically, if you don't want to wear what they want, you don't get to be on the team. Nice choice'

I think people are grossly overestimating how often this 'choice' has to be made.

If a person shows an interest in a sport, is good at it, goes to training, does try outs, does more training, watches others compete at novice and comp level, then gets into a competition team and given their comp uniform. It would be extremely unusual and pretty ridiculous for them to turn around after all of that and say 'wait a minute! I didnt realise this leotard/tight shorts/swim suit is what I have to wear. No, sorry I'm not doing it now unless I can wear something different'

As multiple people have repeatedly pointed out, the clothes have a functional purpose suited to the sport. Top level athletes are more concerned about having the best chance of winning.

At novice gym comps, girls can wear shorts or thick leggings if they want to. And some do- but most choose to wear leotards from what I've seen.

Exactly. They're not going to turn around and say they don't want to wear it. So they suck it up.

Following on from what somebody said up thread. The gymnasts seem to be covered up more for competition, usually wearing long sleeved leotards etc. In the gyms for training the crop top and short, or short sleeved leotard is favoured, with males either going topless or wearing form fitting vest. Leggings only seem to come out for the coldest few weeks of the year,

Sucking up wearing a leotard is far better than sucking up "one more time" for the seventh hundred time, or taking skates off with the inside covered in blood from blisters, or sucking up the pain of injuries and the dissapointment of loosing.Getting out of bed at 4am for training sessions, living on a restricted diet, not being able to socialise with peers, having a tutor instead of going to school when abroad.

In competitive sports there are far worse things to "suck up" than a bastarding leotard 😂

itsmine yes indeed, so if everyone could stop banging on about this non issue people would, but the professionally offended don't seem to grasp that its a non issue. They have leggings, and a choice, but that does not fit with the hard line feminist agenda that some are attempting and failing to portray, so they will continue to bang their drum till they become such an annoyance everyone leaves them to their ramblings and oddness.

I have seen some wear costumes with skin colour mesh. I always presumed that they have lasered so don't have to waste hours defuzzing every few days

The trouble is that the professionally unoffended seem completely incapable of grasping that this is not about sexualization or about modesty or even about feminism but about the lessons, overt and covert, that we are sending girls about what society finds acceptable for women. It's saying yes, be strong, be brave, be skillful and competitive. But also be hairless and made up as well.

And I have to say I find the "You have a choice- wear the kit or don't take part" approach pretty bloody shocking.

But I wouldn't want my pubic hair showing purely because it's part of the private area so if I were a top gymnast (haha) I would definitely wax.