The German gymnastics workforce is attracting consideration for greater than its gravity-defying strikes at this 12 months’s Olympic video games in Tokyo.
In an effort to stop the sexualization of their our bodies and the game (and simply really feel comfy whereas competing), the gymnasts traded in normal bikini-cut leotards for full-body unitards on Sunday throughout an Olympics qualifying spherical.
“We needed to point out that each girl, all people, ought to resolve what to put on,” mentioned Elisabeth Seitz, a 27-year-old German Olympics gymnast, earlier than the qualifying occasion, in response to Reuters.
Elizabeth Seitz, German gymnast, competes within the Tokyo Olympics in a unitard.
Credit score: IRIS VAN DEN BROEK / Getty Photographs
German gymnast Pauline Schaefer-Betz wears a unitard as she flips the other way up through the creative gymnastics steadiness beam occasion through the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
Credit score: IONEL BONAVENTURE / Getty Photographs
Whereas bucking custom, this isn’t the primary time the German workforce has worn these full-body outfits, which attain their ankles. In April, they donned the bodysuits through the European championships, the Washington Put up reported.
That transfer garnered the workforce widespread reward from different feminine gymnasts, in response to Reuters.
The Worldwide Gymnastics Federation, the governing physique of aggressive gymnastics, permits gymnasts to compete in uniforms that cowl or semi-cover their arms and totally obscure their legs, so long as the colour matches their leotards, CNN reported. Nonetheless, gymnasts have normally lined their legs in competitors due to non secular causes, per Reuters.
Again in June, American gold medalist Simone Biles mentioned she supported athletes with the ability to put on their most well-liked uniform, even when she’ll be sticking to the normal leotard. “I stand with their choice to put on no matter they please and no matter makes them really feel comfy,” Biles mentioned of the German gymnasts, in response to the Related Press. “So if anybody on the market needs to put on a unitard or leotard, it’s very as much as you.”
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Germany’s Kim Bui exhibits off her strikes in a unitard in a qualifying spherical of the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
Credit score: AFP through Getty Photographs
The unitards should not have an effect on the athletes’ skill to carry out at their peak situation.
“We additionally prepare in tights so we’re used to the sensation,” mentioned Kim Bui, a 32-year-old German Olympics gymnast, in response to Reuters. “It’s not that completely different between competitors or coaching. It’s comfy and that’s the most vital factor.”
Whereas the German gymnasts’ bodysuits did not break any rules, the identical cannot be mentioned for the ladies’s seashore handball workforce from Norway once they performed in a separate competitors. On Monday, the European Handball Federation fined every Norwegian feminine athlete on the workforce 150 euros ($177) every for sporting shorts somewhat than bikini bottoms throughout a sport, the New York Instances reported.
The federation requires feminine gamers to put on bikini bottoms with “with an in depth match and lower on an upward angle towards the highest of the leg.” Nonetheless, male handball athletes can put on shorts.
The Norwegian Handball Federation supplied to pay the fines, as has singer Pink.
“The European handball federation ought to be fined for sexism. Good on ya, girls,” Pink wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
For the German gymnasts on the Olympics, they needed to look good with out feeling uncomfortable.
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The workforce determined as a gaggle to put on the bodysuit earlier than the meet.
“We sat collectively at present and mentioned, OK, we need to have an enormous competitors,” mentioned Sarah Voss, a 21-year-old gymnast, reported the Related Press. “We need to really feel wonderful, we need to present everybody that we glance wonderful.”
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