Gymnastics Updates Policies for Equality
By Sydney Teves
By Sydney Teves
The world of gymnastics scoring is complicated. One could get a deduction for anything from the smallest flexed toe, that goes unnoticed to the untrained eye, to hair falling out of a ponytail.
In recent years, many have spoken out against the sexist difference in rules for female and male athletes when it comes to attire during competition. This past year at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, female Russian gymnasts wore full unitards instead of the traditional long-sleeved leotards to combat sexualization in the sport.
Since then, both United States of America Gymnastics and National Gymnastics Association have revised their rules and regulations, specifically for apparel, to get rid of any unfairness. In years prior, they have both, for females, allowed “unitards with ankle length legs” and “ankle length tights… worn under the leotard,” but neither have allowed any type of shorts.
Now they both allow shorts to be worn under or over the leotard, without a deduction being given, but solid black for USAG or another color for NGA. This being said, there is still a rule for how long the shorts can be. In USAG rules, it is said that the “length must be above the knee or shorter.”
In USAG, an athlete could get a 0.20 point deduction for wearing boxer shorts and presumably any other loose fitting shorts. This does make sense though because it’s done to prevent injury to an athlete by accidentally grabbing their shorts when on bars, for instance. So spandex and other skin tight shorts are allowed with no deduction.
For both USAG and NGA, no underwear or bra straps are to be exposed, but it is not specified whether or not a deduction is given for this. Most male gymnasts won’t have this problem, mostly as they are required to wear shorts for some events and pants for others. This is an example of unfairness within scoring between female and male athletes.
Female athletes cannot show too much of their back with their leotards, but they are not allowed to cover too much when it comes to their legs. Whereas on the other hand, men are told to wear pants and shorts. This isn’t done, however, as a safety precaution but more as something that is more appealing to the eye.
This is the same scenario with beach volleyball. In the 2021 European tournaments, the Norwegian women’s team refused to wear the usual bikini bottoms to play in and opted for tight-fitting shorts that rested above their knees. This caused them to receive a fine for almost $2,000 for violating the wardrobe requirements. Again, the same thing with gymnastics, the men are allowed to wear tank tops and knee length shorts.
As a gymnast myself, I prefer not wearing shorts while competing, but the thing is, I would have the choice if I ever decided that I did want to wear shorts and I wouldn’t be given a deduction for it. Some girls on my team feel most comfortable wearing shorts and I like that they now have the option to feel comfortable at meets without being penalized for it.
Although updates have been made, there is still more progress to be made by gymnastics organizations and the Olympics. Instead of forcing female athletes to compete in the usual revealing leotard, they can give teams the options for apparel. They can allow for teams to give athletes the choice of cut for their leotards while still having the same design throughout.
In recent years, many have spoken out against the sexist difference in rules for female and male athletes when it comes to attire during competition. This past year at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, female Russian gymnasts wore full unitards instead of the traditional long-sleeved leotards to combat sexualization in the sport.
Since then, both United States of America Gymnastics and National Gymnastics Association have revised their rules and regulations, specifically for apparel, to get rid of any unfairness. In years prior, they have both, for females, allowed “unitards with ankle length legs” and “ankle length tights… worn under the leotard,” but neither have allowed any type of shorts.
Now they both allow shorts to be worn under or over the leotard, without a deduction being given, but solid black for USAG or another color for NGA. This being said, there is still a rule for how long the shorts can be. In USAG rules, it is said that the “length must be above the knee or shorter.”
In USAG, an athlete could get a 0.20 point deduction for wearing boxer shorts and presumably any other loose fitting shorts. This does make sense though because it’s done to prevent injury to an athlete by accidentally grabbing their shorts when on bars, for instance. So spandex and other skin tight shorts are allowed with no deduction.
For both USAG and NGA, no underwear or bra straps are to be exposed, but it is not specified whether or not a deduction is given for this. Most male gymnasts won’t have this problem, mostly as they are required to wear shorts for some events and pants for others. This is an example of unfairness within scoring between female and male athletes.
Female athletes cannot show too much of their back with their leotards, but they are not allowed to cover too much when it comes to their legs. Whereas on the other hand, men are told to wear pants and shorts. This isn’t done, however, as a safety precaution but more as something that is more appealing to the eye.
This is the same scenario with beach volleyball. In the 2021 European tournaments, the Norwegian women’s team refused to wear the usual bikini bottoms to play in and opted for tight-fitting shorts that rested above their knees. This caused them to receive a fine for almost $2,000 for violating the wardrobe requirements. Again, the same thing with gymnastics, the men are allowed to wear tank tops and knee length shorts.
As a gymnast myself, I prefer not wearing shorts while competing, but the thing is, I would have the choice if I ever decided that I did want to wear shorts and I wouldn’t be given a deduction for it. Some girls on my team feel most comfortable wearing shorts and I like that they now have the option to feel comfortable at meets without being penalized for it.
Although updates have been made, there is still more progress to be made by gymnastics organizations and the Olympics. Instead of forcing female athletes to compete in the usual revealing leotard, they can give teams the options for apparel. They can allow for teams to give athletes the choice of cut for their leotards while still having the same design throughout.