To think that female athletes could be in shorts rather than arse-cheek-revealing pants?

[Corksoles]

I've just watched several athletes with tan lines that suggest their usual and thus presumably preferred leg wear is short length. Why isn't that the uniform style for the Olympics? (Although shout out to Ethiopia - nice shorts!)

I can see the track athletes' (and could see the gymnasts') arse cheeks. I don't get it. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, not least as presumably a fair chunk will be on their periods. And if I was a rather brilliant 17 year old, on this huge global stage, I think I'd rather wear what I was used to.

Haven't seen one bloke's arse cheek.

YABU - let's see women's arses. Must be for sport and not because these decisions are taken by old men.

YANBU - more functional shorts.

I wonder the same. I wonder what if they are on periods and whether they even get them. But it doesn't matter. I don't get why it has to be so revealing. I watched the diving the other day and same thing. Plenty of arse cheeks of minors. Could they not wear the swimsuits the swimmers wear that cover everything?

Could you not have contributed to one of the other 999 threads about this? Did you really need to start another one??

short reply, there are options on most of the kits. The gymnasts could all have worn unitards if that was their choice. Many of them are wearing skin coloured gymnastic leggings/tights.

same with the swim wear, running, etc etc

im not sure on the volleyball this time around.

I searched for olympics and all I've found is a thread about the US costumes.

It's really striking now watching the track athletes and their tan lines! It's a fairly strong indication of what they usually wear, so I'm a bit puzzled about this argument that they have other options. Or at least why they divert from their normal clothes for this huge audience if they do have a choice?

A lot of athletes train so hard their periods stop - the body basically says this regime isn't compatible with pregnancy.

But I agree. The volleyball ones are actual thongs, sandy anus can't help athletic performance!

If they have tan lines presumably that indicates what they wear in normal life? Eyebrows might be raised if someone rocked up at the local park in a spangly leotard.

Why would you assume any of them are on their periods?

If Jane Bloggs can use the pill to delay her period while she goes on holiday (or never have any at all), I'm sure the vast majority of the athletes at the Olympics are doing the same.

I assume it's for performance reasons, streamlining etc. Hundredths of seconds and mm count in running, jumping etc so any tiny adjustment can be the difference between winning/losing or achieving a world record or whatever.

As long as athletes are given options for more coverage then everyone else needs to stop policing women's bodies.

They are under no obligation to look a certain way for us. Every sport and every athlete is different when it comes to the pros and cons of various attire, and an outfit that is considered reasonably modest in the UK will be seen as absolutely obscene in some countries competing and utterly prudish in others. So athletes should dress their own bodies based on what works for them in their sport, not what appeals to Susan sitting on her sofa in Surrey.

@Ponkpinkpink15

Could you not have contributed to one of the other 999 threads about this? Did you really need to start another one??

I haven't seen any other threads on this.

Thanks for the thread policing though. 🙏🤣

Oh god, sorry OP. This thread was a bad idea according to some. Interesting that people can wear what they want (nobody said they couldn't?) but apparently you can't share any opinion you have or you are going to be put in place and be accused of policing women's bodies.

I thought these days there were choices in what they can wear.

Could be wrong.

Maybe there are choices. Doesn't mean that each choice gives you the same chances or a teenager feels they actually have a choice. Especially in sports like diving or gymnastics with human decision makers.

I mean I don’t really want to see Andy Murray’s hairy arse cheek so I don’t go with the why are men not in pants chain if thought. Im not really offended by the leotards or track athletes pants. I think most of the track athletes prefer the short pants.

I have a DD who competes in athletics and used to feel the same, but speaking to the older girls (DD is only 12), some of them actually prefer running briefs. They do have the choice of shorts, but lots of them just find them more comfortable. As long as they have a choice, I guess it’s up to them really.

The gymnasts have the option to wear unitards as the German team often do. But most still choose the leotards as they show off their movements better and don’t restrict them.

And yes, usually Nike Pros for training, but briefs for competing. It’s a bit like training swim suits vs compression suits for racing.

YANBU it's not nice to see on anyone male or female.

Seen lots of girls/older teenagers at the park today in very short Jean shorts with everything hanging out and tiny string bikini tops. Spotted a friends daughter (14) and she came to say hello. I felt slightly uncomfortable as she was in a tiny bikini top and very short shorts just abit too much flesh for my liking.

I'm probably just old fashioned but I just didn't dress this way when I was younger but maybe because I wasn't confident (and still not) with my body. I was taught if it was short below then not low on top and if it was low on top not short on the bottom. I still stick to that now but tend to live in jeans and T-shirt now I'm older. On the beach I wear a full bottom pants/or shorts just above the knee and bikini top with a loose over top or a tankini.

I used to do competitive sport. I did not train in the same kit I competed in. Training kit was chosen for durability, comfort during prolonged usage and cost. Competition kit was about speed.

Many of them will have grown up doing their sports and what you wear is just what you wear. If it works you don’t necessarily question it or see it through the eyes of those not involved in the sport.

Def your problem though, glad girls wear whatever they like these days tbh

An individual choosing how to dress their own body (or whether to wear makeup on their own face or remove body hair from their own skin or how to style the hair on their own heads) is not the equivalent of other people publicly passing judgements and making assumptions about what women do with their bodies.

Women are exposed to a constant litany of opinions about our bodies and what we do with them from childhood. Why do you feel the need to add to that chorus?

i dont understand the diving costumes for women,
which doesnt apply to men

If that were true, then the men would wear similar teeny tiny shorts with their bollocks almost on show, wouldn't they?
But they don't, do they?

@Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles I don’t think any athletes would wear their training/racing kit to the local park. DD doesn’t wear her Nike Pros anywhere other than the track.

aerodynamically it’s faster to wear tighter gear but also, who cares what you think? They can wear whatever they like.

edit to add, why does being on your period preclude you from wearing pants that show arse cheek?

@Willmafrockfit I agree re the diving. It looked like they were deliberately hooking them up their arses. I don’t really get why. If they want to dive in thong swim suits, make a thong swimsuit, but they didn’t look like they were cut that way. The Chinese didn’t hoik their swimsuits up their bums and seemed to manage OK.