The German gymnastics group is attracting consideration for greater than its gravity-defying strikes at this 12 months’s Olympic video games in Tokyo.
In an effort to forestall the sexualization of their our bodies and the game (and simply really feel comfy whereas competing), the gymnasts traded in commonplace bikini-cut leotards for full-body unitards on Sunday throughout an Olympics qualifying spherical.
“We needed to point out that each lady, all people, ought to determine what to put on,” stated Elisabeth Seitz, a 27-year-old German Olympics gymnast, earlier than the qualifying occasion, in accordance with Reuters.
Elizabeth Seitz, German gymnast, competes within the Tokyo Olympics in a unitard.
Credit score: IRIS VAN DEN BROEK / Getty Pictures
German gymnast Pauline Schaefer-Betz wears a unitard as she flips the wrong way up through the creative gymnastics stability beam occasion through the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
Credit score: IONEL BONAVENTURE / Getty Pictures
Whereas bucking custom, this isn’t the primary time the German group has worn these full-body outfits, which attain their ankles. In April, they donned the bodysuits through the European championships, the Washington Publish reported.
That transfer garnered the group widespread reward from different feminine gymnasts, in accordance with 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 absolutely obscure their legs, so long as the colour matches their leotards, CNN reported. Nevertheless, gymnasts have often lined their legs in competitors due to spiritual causes, per Reuters.
Again in June, American gold medalist Simone Biles stated she supported athletes with the ability to put on their most well-liked uniform, even when she’ll be sticking to the standard leotard. “I stand with their resolution to put on no matter they please and no matter makes them really feel comfy,” Biles stated of the German gymnasts, in accordance with 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 reveals off her strikes in a unitard in a qualifying spherical of the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
Credit score: AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The unitards should not have an effect on the athletes’ capability to carry out at their peak situation.
“We additionally practice in tights so we’re used to the sensation,” stated Kim Bui, a 32-year-old German Olympics gymnast, in accordance with Reuters. “It isn’t 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 laws, the identical cannot be stated for the ladies’s seashore handball group from Norway once they performed in a separate competitors. On Monday, the European Handball Federation fined every Norwegian feminine athlete on the group 150 euros ($177) every for sporting shorts reasonably than bikini bottoms throughout a recreation, the New York Occasions 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.” Nevertheless, male handball athletes can put on shorts.
The Norwegian Handball Federation provided to pay the fines, as has singer Pink.
“The European handball federation needs 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.
The group determined as a gaggle to put on the bodysuit earlier than the meet.
“We sat collectively in the present day and stated, OK, we wish to have an enormous competitors,” stated Sarah Voss, a 21-year-old gymnast, reported the Related Press. “We wish to really feel wonderful, we wish to present everybody that we glance wonderful.”
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