Uniform (gymnastics)

Athletes competing or training artistic gymnastics wear specific attire. The standard of dress for international competition is regulated by the FIG and the Code of Points.

Women

A sleeveless competition leotard made of metallic fabric.

Leotards

Gymnastics leotards are really designed to resolve the problems with uncomfortable movements due to wearing loose clothes while performing. This gymnastics leotard is a piece of apparel that can be worn during sports and athletic performances. The design of the garment is as simple as one-piece apparel usually covering the chest and the abdomen but exposing the legs.^[1]

For females, the standard competition uniform is a leotard. Traditionally, competition leotards have always had long sleeves; however, half-length sleeved and sleeveless garments are now permitted under the Code of Points and have been worn by teams at the World Gymnastics Championships and other major events. Practice leotards and those worn in podium training sessions are generally sleeveless. ^{[citation needed]}

Leotards may not ride too high on the hip or be cut too low; in rare instances, gymnasts and teams have been penalized with score deductions for their attire. ^{[citation needed]}

In the 1970s leotards were typically made from polyester and related fabrics. Since the 1980s, however, they have been made from lycra or spandex. Since the 1990s, leotards have become more elaborate and have employed a variety of textiles, including velvet, velour, mesh, metallic fabrics, foils and iridescent "hologram" fabric. They can also be decorated with rhinestones, and metallic jewels that are heat-set onto the garments and will not fall or wash off.^{[citation needed]}

Leotards can not be cut above hip height, or, at the top, be cut past the shoulder blades, back or front. Any leotard that is somewhat see-through, is also against the rules.Usage of white stocking is not standard. ^{[citation needed]}

Hair and Jewelry

Gymnasts are not required to adopt any specific hairstyle or hair length. Hair grips must be secure and safe. Gymnasts must have short enough hair so that when they do anything upside down, their hair must not touch the floor. However, they must keep long hair tied back in some sort of fashion, be in a ponytail, or a braid. Most of the time, gymnasts are given hair ties and scrunchies that match their competition leotards or (if Muslim) a hijab (head scarf). Decorated hair grips (slides) are classified as jewelry and are not allowed. No jewelry may be worn by gymnasts with the exception of 1 pair of stud earrings (1 in each ear).^[2]

Training

For regular training and practice sessions, gymnasts generally wear whatever they choose. Some gymnastics schools have specific regulation attire; however, this is not usually the case. Sleeveless workout leotards are greatly preferred, and are frequently paired with shorts, leggings, T-shirts, tank tops or bicycle shorts. As in competition, gymnasts must tie their hair back. Attire usually must fit close to the body in order to reduce risk of injury.

Men

A male gymnastics uniform.

For competitions, male gymnasts wear two layers of clothing. The first, a singlet (or Comp Shirt - Short for Competition Shirt) is a sleeveless leotard. For floor and vault, gymnasts wear a pair of very short shorts over the singlet. For their other events, they wear a pair of long pants, attached to the bottom of the feet with stirrups.

Men's uniforms are usually less ornate than those of their female counterparts, and are usually matt-colored while women's uniforms generally employ metallic or iridescent fabrics. Singlets usually employ one or more of the national team colors, but there are no restrictions on design. Shorts and pants are generally a solid color, usually white, blue, red or black.

Hair

Gymnasts are not required to adopt any specific hairstyle, however, almost all male athletes opt to have short hair. While some male gymnasts opt to have facial hair, this is generally limited to a neatly trimmed moustache or goatee.

Training

For regular training and practice sessions, a majority of male gymnasts choose casual workout attire, such as shorts and tank tops, or they train shirtless.

Accessories

Additionally, each team has their own set of warm-ups. Typically, these are a zip up jacket with the team name on the back, and the gymnast's name on the left upper chest. The pants correspond to the jacket. At some competitions, gymnasts accept their medals wearing their warm-ups; at others, they ascend the podium wearing only their competition attire.

Both men and women are allowed to compete with grips (straps of leather that cover the hand) and wrist guards. The wearing of gymnastics footwear is optional on each discipline, but if chosen must be worn by the entire team for the Floor program. Bandages are permitted. However, they must be securely fastened and of a non-intrusive color. (This includes joint supports). The same non-intrusive color should be worn by all members of the squad or match the skin tone of the athlete.^[3]

Many national teams and clubs issue other accessories to their competitive gymnasts, including matching gym bags, sneakers, T-shirts and casual workout pants. Gymnasts may wear these items when they appear together at competition opening ceremonies or other functions.

Rules and customs that apply to both WAG and MAG

For international competitions, gymnasts always wear uniforms provided to them by their national gymnastics federation. These garments typically employ the country's national colors, however, there are no restrictions on design. In some cases, gymnasts wear a more traditional national leotard for the team portion of the competition, and are allowed some measure of personal choice during the all-around and event finals.

Gymnasts competing at national or local events typically wear the team leotard of their home gymnastics club. Costs for these leotards are generally borne by the gymnasts or their parents.

During a competition, a number, or "bib", is attached to the leotard or singlet's back with safety pins. The number identifies the gymnast to the judges and aids them in tabulating the scores. If a gymnast competes without his or her number, he or she incurs a deduction.

Before 1997, many gymnasts, both female and male, wore pendants and necklaces of religious or sentimental significance while competing. All jewelry is now banned under the Code of Points. Gymnasts with pierced ears may wear studs or post earrings. Other piercings, if visible, are generally removed for competition.

Tattoos, while not strictly banned in the Code of Points, are usually concealed during competition by tape or bandages.

Competition Regulations: Most international gymnastics competitions are regulated by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, or FIG. Detailed dress regulations are listed in the FIG Code of Points and must be followed by all gymnasts. These rules state, "Correct aerobics attire must be in non-transparent material and undergarments must not be shown." Women must wear a one-piece leotard. The cut of the leotard at the top of the legs must not go higher than the waist, and the leotard must cover the crotch completely. Men are allowed to wear "a unitard or shorts with a form fitting top or leotard." Gymnasts who do not follow these rules will lose points when judging takes place.^[4]

History

Olympic gymnastics team leotards have dramatically changed from their first memorable designs. Over time, the emphasis on what leotards are intended to do has changed. Originally, the intent was to cover as much of a woman’s body as possible, while today, leotards must breathe, improve aerodynamics and seamlessly re-shape as female athletes bend, twist and contort their way through increasingly difficult routines.^[5]

Although this may seem funny, gymnastics apparel early, was created by a man yet. Now skin tight clothes girls are mainly used is named after the French acrobat Jules Leotard, spread the garment. A pioneer in one of the most famous of his time acrobatics and gymnastics, Jules was looking for the perfect costume for his performance should be perfect in all aspects. After all, he was the first combined Maillot (the original name of the garment) for himself in 1859. Shows a well-developed muscles in his audience at the same time, that he was able to perform a trick that has been refined to perfection. So, modern gymnastics leotards for girls, the route back to the 19th century.^[6]

References

• USA Gymnastics, December 2012
• About Gymnastics and Leotards, October 2009