Random thought about women's olympic clothing

I remember like a year or two ago there were people advocating to change female uniforms in certain sports because they said they were too sexualized but they're still wearing the same stuff years later so I wonder, is there an actual practical reason for these uniforms or is it just fan service? Like what stops gymnasts or track runners from wearing normal shorts instead of skin-tight clothes?

You've all probably seen at least one or two of those female track runner/jumper videos where their ass is hanging out of their uniform. Can a sports scientist justify why their uniforms are actually like this?

Meant to post in off-topic. GG

not a sports scientist or anything but
skin tight clothes are probably more aerodynamic
the looseness might also get in the way of certain stunts or movements
its not just females, also males wear skin tight clothes unless im tweaking

for certain sports it's for air resistance. pro gymnasts (for example) will always wear tight clothing because air resistance can ruin their consistency (especially in events like trampoline)

for many other sports it's also for comfort or cultural reasons. female beach volleyball players can be seen wearing regular bikinis, long sleeve shirts/pants, or something in between

nobody___100 [#2]

not a sports scientist or anything but
skin tight clothes are probably more aerodynamic
the looseness might also get in the way of certain stunts or movements
its not just females, also males wear skin tight clothes unless im tweaking

its not just females, also males wear skin tight clothes unless im tweaking

They do. I guess it's seen differently since men's bodies aren't really sexualized. The aerodynamic thing makes sense but ngl sometimes the uniforms are a bit much, no? Like this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5S8B9QwvA (female long jumpers wearing clothes that cover only half their ass).

Now, as a straight guy I'm not complaining. I'm just saying I can't personally justify this in court, lol.

guest1627 [#4]

its not just females, also males wear skin tight clothes unless im tweaking

They do. I guess it's seen differently since men's bodies aren't really sexualized. The aerodynamic thing makes sense but ngl sometimes the uniforms are a bit much, no? Like this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5S8B9QwvA (female long jumpers wearing clothes that cover only half their ass).

Now, as a straight guy I'm not complaining. I'm just saying I can't personally justify this in court, lol.

um
perhaps they need to keep their legs uncovered for best jump ability so they aren't restricted
although it does seem a bit much

LycheeBlade [#3]

for certain sports it's for air resistance. pro gymnasts (for example) will always wear tight clothing because air resistance can ruin their consistency (especially in events like trampoline)

for many other sports it's also for comfort or cultural reasons. female beach volleyball players can be seen wearing regular bikinis, long sleeve shirts/pants, or something in between

for many other sports it's also for comfort or cultural reasons.

I think this is probably the main answer to what I'm thinking about because I can understand wearing tight clothing for less resistance but it doesn't explain why the men wear normal shorts and the women wear booty shorts.

nobody___100 [#2]

not a sports scientist or anything but
skin tight clothes are probably more aerodynamic
the looseness might also get in the way of certain stunts or movements
its not just females, also males wear skin tight clothes unless im tweaking

men wear shorts for ground sports like long jump, pole vault.

nobody___100 [#5]

um
perhaps they need to keep their legs uncovered for best jump ability so they aren't restricted
although it does seem a bit much

welp, heres my take

women do it for less restricted movement, and men wear shorts because they have a particularly protruding body part and wearing speedos isn't comfortable. shorts lessen the risk of revealing and are less constraining