The anti-establishment side of women's sports: the beginning of the end of bikinis as a uniform?

June 2021, athletes from all over the world finalize their training and equipment to travel to Tokyo to celebrate the Olympic Games that should have been held in 2020, had it not been for a brutal pandemic that paralyzed the entire planet for more than a year and medium and that still continues unabated in many countries. In Germany, the national artistic gymnastics team is asking a question: why do men and women wear such different uniforms in an even competition? While they compete with long pants and a tank top with the national colors, they usually do it with jerseys, with a cut similar to those of women's swimsuits.

Although it may seem like a tradition, on many occasions it is even normative: just before London 2012, the 'amateur' International Boxing Association requested that female athletes wear skirts instead of shorts, arguing that spectators would thus have an easier time distinguish between men and women. Canadian journalist Elizabeth Plank, also an 'amateur' boxer, launched an 'online' petition to demand that this measure be withdrawn, which had nothing to do with sport, but was a "further reinforcement of gender stereotypes and subjugation Women's". "Beyond the obvious misogynistic implications of such a recommendation, forcing female boxers to wear a uniform they don't feel comfortable in can have direct consequences on their performance," the journalist noted. She got it: since then, boxers can wear skirts or pants, whichever they prefer.

At the same time, the International Volleyball Federation changed its dress code: although until then it was compulsory for players to wear a bikini or jumpsuit during matches, this measure was 'relaxed' to allow the use of shirts and shorts out of respect for the "cultural and religious requirements" of some countries. Also in 2011, the Badminton World Federation, on the eve of the London Games, required athletes to wear skirts or dresses. On this occasion, the argument was clearer: it meant a "more attractive presentation" of the athletes, as reported by France24.

July 2021, Tokyo. Germany's artistic gymnastics team forgoes its traditional uniforms and wears ankle-length suits. The truth is that it is not new, they had already done it some time ago, in April, during the European championships held in Switzerland. "The women of the German national team talked about how we really felt in our outfits," Elisabet Seitz, now present in Tokyo, explained at the time. From this conversation it emerged that, really, they were not comfortable with their short jerseys.

So all together they decided to think what they could do, and they developed a series of full body uniforms. "[With this suit] I no longer wonder if at some point you can see something that I would not like," she said, in statements collected by the German news agency DPA. The idea is not that it is mandatory, but that the gymnasts choose their costumes to compete. "Every athlete has to have the feeling that she is not forced to do anything and that she can wear what she likes," she points out, and what Seitz is looking for is to do gymnastics with clothes that make you feel comfortable. comfortable.

The European Basel (Switzerland) was the first test. "Most people were positive about it," said the athlete, according to CNN. "But after the European championships we had little time to design a suit for us. Maybe in the future." Sarah Voss, also on the German gymnastics team, appreciated the interest shown by the coaches. "They said they want us to feel safer and more comfortable in any case. That makes you feel better, and more comfortable."

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Norwegian handball, another example

Another recent case has been that of the Norwegian beach handball team. After refusing to play in a bikini at the European Championships, the European Handball Federation approved a fine of around 150 euros per athlete for wearing "inadequate clothing" during the match against Spain. Under federation regulations, female athletes must wear bikini bottoms with a side width of no more than 10 centimeters, with a "snug fit" and cut "at an angle towards the upper leg". Meanwhile, men should wear shorts, not too loose, 10 centimeters above the knee.

The same coach of the Norwegians, Eskil Berg Andreassen, assured CNN that these regulations can cause women not to want to practice this sport. "Maybe they'll walk away from the sport and choose another discipline," he noted. Andreassen is in favor of allowing women to choose their clothing, and places special emphasis on women from Muslim countries: "We have to get more Arab women to participate in this type of sports."

The Norwegian Handball Federation is clear: "We are very proud that these girls raised their voices and said that enough is enough in the European Championship. From the Federation we support this decision and we support it. Together we will continue fighting to change the rules on the clothing, so players can play in clothes they feel comfortable in. As a result of this controversy, the American pop singer, "proud" of the performance of the Norwegian athletes, has offered to pay the fine for them. "The European handball federation should be fined for sexism. Good for you women," she said.

Olivia Breen: "I asked if it was a joke"

In these Olympic Games, the debate is even more marked. The two-time Paralympic world champion Olivia Breen was recently involved in a controversy in this regard. After competing in the long jump at the All England Championships in Bedford, she criticized her shorts for being "too short and inappropriate". "They told me I had to consider wearing shorts, because my tights were too 'revealing,'" she told France24. "It took me by surprise. I was stunned and even asked if it was a joke. They told me no, and insisted that I buy some shorts."

Following the incident, Breen criticized the double standards regarding dress codes in sports, wondering if men would be subject to the same level of scrutiny. "I've worn the same type of tights for a long time. I recognize there have to be rules and guidelines around kit in competitions, but you can't make women feel self-conscious about what they wear when they compete. They should feel comfortable and at ease." ". "This is 2021, not the 18th century. They shouldn't tell me what I can and can't wear." Breen filed an official complaint with England Athletics and assured that in Tokyo she would wear the same type of mesh. "I'm not going to let them stop me from using them."