The Evolution Of Olympic Gymnastics Fashion

Members of the German Olympic gymnastics team pose in uniforms that look suspiciously like belted trousers during the very first of the modern Olympic Games — the 1896 Olympics held in Athens, Greece.

While women’s gymnastics didn’t become an official Olympic event until 1928, non-competitive gymnastics displays were open to women during some early Games. For example, a team of Danish female gymnasts demonstrated their skills at the 1908 London Olympics while wearing a uniform of long sleeves blouses and culotte shorts.

By 1920, men’s Olympic gymnastics uniforms had evolved only slightly to include a sleeveless or short-sleeved shirt and a more athletic-fit pant, as seen on a team practicing configurations at the Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

By the time women’s gymnastics was officially introduced as an Olympic event in 1928, many women’s teams — including the French team seen here — had ditched the culotte shorts in favor of loose-fitting rompers.

Women’s Olympic gymnastics uniforms continued to evolve, with many teams favoring a combo of a tighter fitting short-short and sleeveless tank. Above, German gymnast Kate Sohnemann performs on the balance beam at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Members of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team watch their teammate Marian Barone on the balance beam at the 1948 Olympics in London, England. For the 1948 Games, the U.S. team favored a loosely-fitted leotard with a high neckline and a modest, low-cut leg opening that provided maximum bum coverage.

It’s worth noting, however, that not all women’s gymnastics teams competing at the 1948 Olympics had adopted leotards as their uniforms. Great Britain’s team, for example, continued to wear a sleeveless romper with loose-fitting shorts as seen on gymnast Cissie Davies above.

For the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina wore a long-sleeved, skin-tight leotard reminiscent of what Olympic gymnasts wear today.

But while women’s Olympic gymnastics attire underwent a noticable evolution, becoming both shorter and tighter, men’s uniforms continued to feature long pants and short-sleeved or sleeveless tops consistent with what Italian gymnast Franco Menichelli wore to the 1964 Games.

By 1968, women’s gymnastics teams around the world had fully adopted the long-sleeved leotard as seen on U.S. gymnast Cathy Rigby, above. However, leotard designs and embellishments remained muted as teams opted for solid-color leotards with a simple white detail around the neckline.

By the 1980 Games in Moscow, Olympic gymnastics uniforms had become more expressive with teams favoring designs that included multiple colors, patterns, stripes, or other embellishments.

After earning a perfect 10-point score for her floor routine while wearing a leotard designed to feature elements of the American flag, Mary Lou Retton of the United States became the first American to receive the all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympics.

The U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastic team continued to favor patriotic designs, such as the one Dominique Dawes wore during the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Of course, the United States isn’t the only country to have included design elements that speak to aspects of their nation’s culture or history in their Olympic women’s gymnastics team uniforms. Above, China’s Shanshan Li wore a red and gold leotard decorated with what looks to be a plum blossom. In China, red and gold are colors often used to symbolize good fortune and prosperity, while the plum blossom is the national flower of the Republic of China.

As Gabby Douglas scooped two gold medals for the United States at the 2012 Games, Olympic leotard fashion sparked outrage among commentators at Fox News. Their issue? The U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team was wearing bright pink leotards with a metallic finish known as Mystique. Fox News accused U.S. gymnasts of not being patriotic, citing the lack of stars and stripes or red-white-and-blue coloring on their leotards.

Although heavily embellished with thousands of crystals (thanks largely to what Elle has reported is ice skating’s influence on gymnastics), leotards worn by the 2016 U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team once again featured design elements reminiscent of the American flag.

Sarah Voss and other members of Germany’s 2021 women’s gymnastics team are hoping to spark something of a revolution in Olympic gymnastics fashion at the Tokyo Games. In an effort to stand against the sexualization happening in the sport, Voss and her teammates are wearing full-body suits instead of the traditional high-cut leotards that have become common. “We hope gymnasts uncomfortable in the usual outfits will feel emboldened to follow our example," Voss told the BBC.