German Gymnasts Take a Stand Against Athlete Sexualisation
April 30, 2021
At the recent European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, members of the German gymnastics team sparked a conversation on female sporting attire when they opted for full-body suits, defying conventions. Previously women and girls in the sport had only covered their legs in international competition for religious reasons.
21-year-old artistic gymnast Sarah Voss led the charge and was followed by two of her teammates. Voss said, “we hope gymnasts uncomfortable in the usual outfits will feel emboldened to follow our example.”
She told BBC Radio 5, "if they feel safe they can wear a normal leotard if they like it. If there is a certain point they think they would feel better in a long leotard, then they should do it...Some girls quit this beautiful sport [because of having to wear leotards] so that is why this is a great option for everyone to stay in the sport they love and don't think about anything else about their body - just about their performance."
The German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) said its gymnasts were taking a stand against “sexualisation in gymnastics,” adding that it was also important to prevent sexual abuse.
Voss’ teammate’, Kim Bui said that they wanted to set an example as a team and Elisabeth Seitz shared that it was one less thing to worry about, as there was no risk of revealing anything by accident.
“In the sport of gymnastics, it gets harder and harder as you grow out of your child's body,” Voss said to broadcaster ZDF.
“As a little girl, I didn't see the tight gym outfits as such a big deal. But when puberty began, when my period came, I began feeling increasingly uncomfortable.”
Under the rules of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) competitors are allowed to wear a "one-piece leotard with full-length legs - hip to ankle", provided it is of elegant design.
The clothing swap was completely legal within the competition and judges sometimes deducted points when competitors were forced to adjust shorter bodysuits during their routines. Many praised this movement within the sport, congratulating Voss for “her bold move to defy convention.”
Along with the issue of sexualisation came the conversation against sexual abuse. US gymnast, Simone Biles, who spoke out about her sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, said last week that she wanted to speak out and give survivors of abuse a voice through competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles, two years ago also told Telegraph Sport “you go through puberty while in a leotard, where most people wouldn’t.” This echoes the many shared experiences of gymnasts and their feelings towards the possibly inappropriate outfits gymnasts compete in.
This action and movement online has also prompted a debate on whether other sports and athletes should follow suit, with volleyball being a specific sport being brought up online for being inappropriate and sexualised.
Source: BBC Sport