OT--Olympic swimsuits

Iris L.

I notice that for some of the swim meets the women wore regular one piece swimsuits.  But for other meets they wore knee length unitard-type swimsuits.  Can anyone explain why the change of suits?  

Iris 

M1

I think the unitards are supposed to increase their speed, decrease resistance in the water.  Similarly, the German female gymnasts are wearing long leotards, protesting sexualization of the sport.  Good for them!!

Beachfan

And how about those women’s beach volleyball “uniforms “???? One false move and then what?  Ugh, I find them offensive, to say the least.  (Will the guys be wearing tiny Speedo’s).

Stuck in the middle

Yes, the guys wear Speedos, or at least have in years past.  The Danish women's team is paying a fine rather than wear bikinis like the other teams.  They are wearing mid-thigh shorts.

Esther Williams, who competed in the 1940s before going into the movies, said in an interview some years ago that the very clingy silk swimsuits worn in competition were a big help to her acting career.  As a teenager, she got used to being virtually nude (especially when wet) and being stared at.  

harshedbuzz

Beachfan wrote:

And how about those women’s beach volleyball “uniforms “???? One false move and then what?  Ugh, I find them offensive, to say the least.  (Will the guys be wearing tiny Speedo’s).

The women who wear them don't like them either.

And most of the men swimmers wear more of a compression bike short style these days.

Norway Women's Beach Handball Team Fined For Not Wearing Bikini Bottoms : NPR

Iris L.

I've watched swimming all day and all the women are wearing unitards.  I think it was the synchronized diving women who wore the one piece regular swimsuits.  I read an interesting article about the evolution of the Olympic women's swimsuits.  They have been skimpy, then ankle length, now the unitard look.  Men have worn Speedos, now they are in biker shorts.  I like the unitard swimsuits the most.

Iris