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German gymnasts in full body suits at the Olympics: the message that will survive the competition

2021-07-26T09:21:12.514Z


Not in the team final, but still a topic of conversation. The four German gymnasts wore full body suits - as a clear sign: Everyone should be able to feel comfortable in their bodies. The action cannot be taken for granted.


Enlarge image

The German gymnast Elisabeth Seitz at the Olympic Games: full body suit instead of bikini-like clothing

Photo:

Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images

The German gymnasts will not be there on Tuesday evening, Japanese time.

In the qualification for the team competition, Elisabeth Seitz, Kim Bui, Sarah Voss and Pauline Schäfer had 161.162 points, 1.5 points short of them to make it into the final of the top eight.

After that, tears flowed at Voss.

Nevertheless, one could have the impression that the four Germans had left the gymnastics hall of the summer games as winners.

“I applaud them,” said the Norwegian gymnast Julie Erichsen, for example, and: “I think it's really cool that you have the courage to stand on such a large arena and show women from all over the world that you can wear, what you want. "

The four German gymnasts had come into the hall wearing full-body suits, their sleeves white, their trouser legs red.

The suits of the Germans did not stop at the hips as is usual in gymnastics.

The body remained covered up to the ankles.

Bikini-style clothing is typically worn in the sport.

A message emanated from the choice of clothing: Have the courage to make your own decisions.

And it was directed against the sexualization of women in sport.

At the European Championships in April, the German women had already set an example with their full-body suits, and even then the sensation was great.

But at the Olympics everything is a bit bigger, even more people are looking at the Summer Games, the US audience of millions follows gymnastics to see superstar Simone Biles.

You have all seen the German gymnasts, their suits, their message.

The New York Times also reported on it:

Sarah Voss said that in the team they were initially not sure whether they should wear the clothes after the European Championships at the Olympics.

The decision was made late.

"We sat down and said, okay, we want to have a big competition, we want to feel great and show everyone that we look great."

"When you grow up as a woman, it is in a way quite difficult to get used to your new body," said the 21-year-old.

Seitz said in April: "It is also a sign, precisely because we do a lot of splits and yet are relatively wide-legged."

It is important »that everyone presents himself as he feels comfortable.

That is the signal that we want to set as a team. "It should be more about wellbeing and good gymnastics," less about nudity.

But not only the age, the change in the body and the feeling of well-being have to play a role in the choice of clothes.

Religious and cultural backgrounds can do this too.

The Germans' weighing up whether they should wear the full-body suits or not, the reactions of the competitors, the praise for their courage - all of this shows that it is not a matter of course to wear a full-body suit for gymnastics.

Deciding against the custom, against the short outfits, requires leadership.

The German athletes have proven it.

Beach handball players want to wear shorts like men do - punishment

The outfits of the Germans correspond to the cloakroom rules of the International Gymnastics Federation.

This has to be emphasized because it is not the case that female athletes are generally free to cover their bodies as they wish.

It was only shortly before the start of the Summer Games that the Norwegian women's beach handball team refused to play in bikini bottoms in European tournaments.

Instead, they wore shorts, similar to those worn by men in beach handball.

The action resulted in a fine, a dress code violation.

It is unlikely that the full body suit will now be used in gymnastics, that everyone will soon be wearing it.

But that's not the point either.

It's about being able to decide for yourself.

Simone Biles wants to continue to compete in her short jersey.

It makes her more agile, and she believes it is also a little bigger.

Biles measures 1.42 meters.

But she stands by the decision of the Germans to "wear what they like".

For Biles and her teammates, it will be the first summer games since the Larry Nassar abuse scandal became known.

As a former doctor to US gymnasts, he has sexually abused hundreds of female athletes, including some of the sport's greatest stars.

On Tuesday, the US athletes hope for their first gold medal in gymnastics.

The Germans will then watch, but the Olympic tournament is not over for them yet.

Seitz and Bui are in the all-around final on Friday.

You will then wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

Also as a sign for everyone else.

With material from Reuters and AP

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-07-26

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