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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Swimming costumes at the Commonwealth games

76 replies

Mydogsnotfat · 06/08/2022 21:09

Just watching a bit of synchro diving. Why oh why is it needed for their costumes to be so very high cut. With the moves they make there is real danger of giving the crowd a view of more than bargained for!! I mean surely it doesn’t make them dive any better and the men wear regular cut trunks so what is the point??

OP posts:
Rummikub · 07/08/2022 00:48

That picture is shocking. Why are female athletes expected to wear more revealing outfits?

The point about news photographers is a good one too

itsgettingweird · 07/08/2022 07:30

Small trunks ARE normal. That’s kind of the point of trunks

I know - my ds is a swimmer.

I was just joking about how they have to tuck themselves in properly before a jump!

Gooseysgirl · 07/08/2022 08:29

I thought the England womens diving costumes were awful. I did see some of them pulling at the bum section to de-wedgie!!

balalake · 07/08/2022 08:33

Agree 100%. In any case athletes, swimmers and anyone in other sports should have choice over what they wear. Sports clothing is a barrier to some women and probably some men taking part, especially at school.

drawacircleroundit · 07/08/2022 08:35

One man’s “regular cut trunks” were showing some perky pubes poking out of the top of his waistband yesterday! Not many, but very much there.

SummaLuvin · 07/08/2022 08:41

Rummikub · 07/08/2022 00:48

That picture is shocking. Why are female athletes expected to wear more revealing outfits?

The point about news photographers is a good one too

I'd suggest the male divers outfits are a fair bit more revealing than female...

itsgettingweird · 07/08/2022 08:42

drawacircleroundit · 07/08/2022 08:35

One man’s “regular cut trunks” were showing some perky pubes poking out of the top of his waistband yesterday! Not many, but very much there.

That's what I meant with the ticking themselves in 🤣🤣🤣🫣

He looked really uncomfortable. Plus they weren't designed properly so that they didn't moon them underwater camera on many cases either.

My ds racing jammers have a silicone inner around the waist band as an extra "I'm diving in hard and fast and turning fast" protection!

drawacircleroundit · 07/08/2022 08:48

NoseyNellie · 06/08/2022 23:53

Can’t speak for the diving but I went to uni with a competitive swimmer and the suits they wear are v high tech and the cut is all about aerodynamics. The bodyskin suits (all in one) give best performance but have been banned for competition as they are believed to give an unfair advantage.

It seems to me that if you’re sexualising an athlete, that’s in your head and something you should be looking at yourself for not criticising someone who’s working hard to achieve a goal.

I’m well into middle age, I have the lowest libido of all the libidos, and I would struggle to sexualise porn.
But watching the diving, you can’t help but notice the little nob-pockets being worn by the men. The shadow of one’s arse crack was just beginning to show, and another had his pubes dancing a line along the top of his waistband.
Is noticing these things me sexualising them? Or just me thinking that in a culture where modesty tends to support the covering of such vistas, it’s natural to notice when the covering doesn’t happen?

Spanielsarepainless · 07/08/2022 09:02

The blokes in the running races don't seem to have any support for their bits and pieces. I thought there would be something supportive, like a sports bra for their undercarriage, but it doesn't look that way. Like a bag of ferrets bobbling about.

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:07

Rosehugger · 06/08/2022 21:16

I think they all look really smart and amazing - men and women divers.

What do you expect, Barbara and Malcolm in an M&S floral tankini and baggy board shorts doing a belly flop from the steps?

Is the "Barbara and Malcolm" comment supposed to depict dull middle age?
There's probably a compromise between having your arse out and looking like "Barbara and Malcolm".

Fizbosshoes · 07/08/2022 09:07

Agree 100%. In any case athletes, swimmers and anyone in other sports should have choice over what they wear. Sports clothing is a barrier to some women and probably some men taking part, especially at school.

Oh the horrendous memories of the gym knickers at school before I had learnt about depilating the bikini lineBlush
I once wore cycling shorts on a cold day and was sent back to change

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:08

Wineinthegarden · 06/08/2022 22:38

I thought the same with the diving. Tiny spaghetti straps and cheese wire bottoms! Sure they can’t be comfortable. Very aerodynamic but i’d Want something a bit more secure!

I was thinking the same! They must be quite sturdy though because nothing happens!

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:08

itsgettingweird · 07/08/2022 07:30

Small trunks ARE normal. That’s kind of the point of trunks

I know - my ds is a swimmer.

I was just joking about how they have to tuck themselves in properly before a jump!

😂😂😂😂

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:09

Spanielsarepainless · 07/08/2022 09:02

The blokes in the running races don't seem to have any support for their bits and pieces. I thought there would be something supportive, like a sports bra for their undercarriage, but it doesn't look that way. Like a bag of ferrets bobbling about.

😂😂😂😉

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:11

@Howdoidothisanymore - ach, it's the usual ageist shite.

RightsHoardingRaptor · 07/08/2022 09:14

We were wondering yesterday why the men's trunks are so small! Massive massive thighs and teeny trunks. Maybe that's why they look small, maybe it's an optical illusion as they are so muscular

A580Hojas · 07/08/2022 09:15

I thought exactly this when watching the women's diving the other day. Just why do their costumes have to be so miniscule? I feel certain they wouldn't have been, say, 20 years ago.

lljkk · 07/08/2022 09:18

Kit/Costumes can be snug enough to show what legs are doing without showing acres of skin. I feel same about women's costumes in gymastics. No need to be so revealing.

JellyfishandShells · 07/08/2022 09:22

I used to dive competitively - just to county level but even that was quite intense - and my daughter is a Masters level swimmer ( and teaches lower level diving) so I do understand something about effective sports swimwear. We both sat and watched the diving ( terrific) and tried to work out the performance justification for this particular design of the womens’ costumes and really couldn’t.

Ponoka7 · 07/08/2022 09:25

I hate the lack of choice in real life for swim/beach wear. Debenhams used to be good for mix and match styles. My DD has to buy from the men's shorts range. I don't see why we have to wear what looks like knickers.

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:27

JellyfishandShells · 07/08/2022 09:22

I used to dive competitively - just to county level but even that was quite intense - and my daughter is a Masters level swimmer ( and teaches lower level diving) so I do understand something about effective sports swimwear. We both sat and watched the diving ( terrific) and tried to work out the performance justification for this particular design of the womens’ costumes and really couldn’t.

That's a very interesting perspective.

Sandunesandseashells · 07/08/2022 09:27

Howdoidothisanymore · 06/08/2022 23:21

Barbara and Malcolm?
Could you clarify??

Well those are my parents’ names and they are aged 81 and 85 respectively! So perhaps a generation too far. I’m trying very hard to NOT imagine them in olympic kit 😱

Mrsjayy · 07/08/2022 09:31

JellyfishandShells · 07/08/2022 09:22

I used to dive competitively - just to county level but even that was quite intense - and my daughter is a Masters level swimmer ( and teaches lower level diving) so I do understand something about effective sports swimwear. We both sat and watched the diving ( terrific) and tried to work out the performance justification for this particular design of the womens’ costumes and really couldn’t.

So you couldn't work them out either, that says a lot.

Maireas · 07/08/2022 09:33

@Sandunesandseashells - they should go for it! Why not. Too many judgemental arses.

Rummikub · 07/08/2022 11:59

SummaLuvin · 07/08/2022 08:41

I'd suggest the male divers outfits are a fair bit more revealing than female...

I was referring to the handball teams photograph.

Generally from what I’ve seen the women’s sportswear is more revealing than the mens. Why is that?

That Jesica Ennis quote too Having all that extra noise in her head. Athletes should have choice about what they wear.