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German Gymnasts Are Taking A Stand Against Sexualization By Wearing Full-Body Suits Instead Of Their Former Revealing Outfits
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German Gymnasts Are Taking A Stand Against Sexualization By Wearing Full-Body Suits Instead Of Their Former Revealing Outfits

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Sports should be about people’s athletic prowess, marveling at their strength and dexterity, and celebrating breaking the limits of what we thought the human body is capable of. What sports should not be about is putting athletes in suggestive outfits so that the audience can ogle them shamelessly. Well, the Germans have finally had enough, it seems.

This Sunday, Germany’s gymnasts wore full-body suits (also known as unitards) in the women’s qualification at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to protest the sexualization of their sport. Usually, gymnasts wear leotards that don’t cover the legs. The German team aims to take a stand against the sexualization of women, for comfort, and to help younger athletes feel safer in the sport. They believe that everybody should be able to choose to wear what they’re most comfortable with.

The debates about clothing and uniforms in sports can make you feel like you’re living in a bizarre version of Planet Earth. Bored Panda recently wrote about how the Norwegian women’s beach handball team got fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms. Meanwhile, there’s an ongoing heated discussion about whether or not to allow afro swimming caps in professional competitions.

RELATED:

    Germany’s female gymnasts wore full-body suits instead of leotards at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying round on Sunday

    Image credits: Pauline Schaefer

    The gymnasts took a stand against the sexualization of their sport and young women

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    Image credits: Pauline Schaefer

    Their goal is to help female gymnasts feel comfortable and safe no matter what they choose to wear

    Image credits: Elisabeth Seitz

    Image credits: Sarah Voss

    Image credits: Pauline Schaefer

    Image credits: Elisabeth Seitz

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    Image credits: Pauline Schaefer

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    Image credits: Kim Bui

    Image credits: Deutscher Turner-Bund

    Image credits: Elisabeth Seitz

    Here is what the German team’s uniforms were like in 2016, in Rio

    Image credits: Pauline Schaefer

    Sexual abuse and the objectification of young women and girls in the world of gymnastics is a fact. AP notes that a former USA Gymnastics national team doctor, Larry Nassar, was sent to prison for 176 years for sexually abusing hundreds of gymnasts.

    The difference between men’s and women’s uniforms in gymnastics competitions is striking. While women conventionally opt for leotards, men wear clothes that cover more of their bodies.

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    This isn’t the first time that the German gymnasts have chosen to defy conventions and take a stand against sexualizing women in the sport. They also wore unitards in April, at the European Gymnastics Championships.

    The German team was the only one opting for unitards on Sunday. All the other teams wore leotards. Here’s the Brazil 2020 team

    Image credits: Sarah Voss

    USA 2020

    Image credits: NBCOlympics/

    Image credits: NBCOlympics/

    Image credits: NBCOlympics/

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    Image credits: Sunisa Lee

    Japan 2020

    Image credits: Aiko Sugihara

    Italy 2020

    Image credits: Lara Mori

    Controversy over clothing in sports is nothing new. Very recently, the Norwegian beach handball team got fined for choosing to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms

    Image credits: Norges Håndballforbund

    Image credits: Norway beach handball women

    However, so far, none of the other teams have chosen to follow in the Germans’ footsteps at the Olympics. And opinions about which uniforms are the most comfortable seem to be split among some athletes.

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    For instance, legendary American gymnast Simone Biles said in June that she prefers wearing leotards because they make her seem taller. However, she pointed out that she fully supports the idea that gymnasts should be able to choose to wear what they’re most comfortable with.

    Here’s how some people reacted to the news about the German gymnasts wearing unitards

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    However, some internet users had a different opinion about wearing full-body suits

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    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Read less »
    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

    Read less »

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

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    K Witmer
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's sexualization bc they are not given a choice if they feel uncomfortable w a labia slipping out and bc the men that made the rule think they will lose viewership if they don't show their bodies. Let them wear what they want especially w the history of sexual assault in the olympics. This shouldn't even have to be said and for anyone saying this is political FU. A women's right to choose what's best for her body is not political men don't have to wear leotards. They get to be comfortable no one says that's political

    Honu
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For the life of me, I cant think of any men's sports where participation comes with a mandatory Brazillian wax.

    Load More Replies...
    Martha Meyer
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope more female athletes will do this in all kinds of sports. Was very happy when I saw the Norwegian team protesting those sexist dress rules.

    Ninn Kynok
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pleasingly on organisation has expressed support in pressing for a change in the rules (which shouldn't have existed in the first place)

    Load More Replies...
    Colin L
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find it hard to believe when someone talked about "It's about protesting more than athletic prowess". Politics and protest have been a part of the Olympics since before I was born. And calling people snowflakes for pointing out real issues only highlights their own misogyny and insecurity.

    justin case
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They really show their own historical ignorance when people claim sports and politics are separate.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    K Witmer
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's sexualization bc they are not given a choice if they feel uncomfortable w a labia slipping out and bc the men that made the rule think they will lose viewership if they don't show their bodies. Let them wear what they want especially w the history of sexual assault in the olympics. This shouldn't even have to be said and for anyone saying this is political FU. A women's right to choose what's best for her body is not political men don't have to wear leotards. They get to be comfortable no one says that's political

    Honu
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For the life of me, I cant think of any men's sports where participation comes with a mandatory Brazillian wax.

    Load More Replies...
    Martha Meyer
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope more female athletes will do this in all kinds of sports. Was very happy when I saw the Norwegian team protesting those sexist dress rules.

    Ninn Kynok
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pleasingly on organisation has expressed support in pressing for a change in the rules (which shouldn't have existed in the first place)

    Load More Replies...
    Colin L
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find it hard to believe when someone talked about "It's about protesting more than athletic prowess". Politics and protest have been a part of the Olympics since before I was born. And calling people snowflakes for pointing out real issues only highlights their own misogyny and insecurity.

    justin case
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They really show their own historical ignorance when people claim sports and politics are separate.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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