The archers I saw yesterday had on some kind of technical looking polo shirt, with the team colors/logo on them. I’m not sure why something like that wouldn’t work for equestrians as well. Leave the white/light pants as part of the rules for dressage where position is scored, but allow teams to have more athleticwear inspired looks. Did the YR program have something like this the other year, where they showed in polos or tech shirts? It looked pretty sharp!
I said my piece on page one, and as someone who actually was an elite gymnast I did and can attest that the leotard is used for a reason but of course some people here will always know better!!! For crying out loud, yes the “sparkle” is kept for competition but I guarantee that the cut of the Leo’s are normal and no big deal. Again… Try doing some of the moves with a more restrictive tighter leg… Oh and swimmers wear leg covering to make them slip through the water NOT to make it easier to lift their legs past their ears etc LOL!
I never felt the need to tug and pull my Leo’s down and neither do these athletes!
How about the fact that the extra layers add to overheating? Heat exhaustion is not worth it. We are athletes, Isn’t it time for our clothing to catch up to that fact???
I have 2 types of sports bras at the moment. One can be crossed at the back when I ride. A fellow class mate has to do that for me.
The other is already crossed. It is quite difficult to get on but at least possible as I have to do up the bottom part at the back.
The jacket helps with all this.
This thread has given me an idea. What I need is more than a bra if I go out in public. Structured like a vest. I guess then the problem is comfort.
Personally in a country where people die every day from skin cancer. I think the volleyballers should be in more than bikinis.
Doing pilates I know that the higher the cut the more comfortable it is to do some exercises. Or I wear tracky dack.
Beach volleyball players choose to wear a bikini and I’m sure they also wear sunscreeen just like I choose to wear a bikini when I’m on a beach… OMG the horror, I’m electing to show my boobs, stomach and butt LOL .
Seriously, these athletes are in phenomenal shape, who are we to judge them for what they choose to wear? If they were all covered we’d be moaning that their right to show their skin had been taken away… We just cannot win!
on a different note, I really covet the black and white Team Canada swimsuit they’re wearing in the 3m springboard women’s semifinals!
[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;8795408]
I am happy for you to send me any bra. I will try it, but experience. I am over 40 years old tells me that I have tried everything and that is what happens to me.[/QUOTE]
I was going to suggest a visit to our local professional, dedicated bra shop. But Vermont is a bit of a hike for you. There must be an equivalent down under.
[QUOTE=Rackonteur;8794681]
The females DO dress for the camera. And haven’t you noticed that the male gymnasts and volleyballers wear more clothes than the female ones? Are you saying the women couldn’t perform as well as the men if they dressed as appropriately as the men do?
Because of course female TV viewers couldn’t care less about seeing the male bodies, we just want to see their moves. lol[/QUOTE]
I completely disagree. Most of the female gymnasts are younger than the male gymnasts. They do very different movements than the male gymnasts, and they have very different “physiological equipment”. NOBODY is sacrificing ability to perform in order to look good to the opposite sex on TV (and a creepy thought given the age of many of the gymnasts). They are wearing clothes that will win them a medal.
Those sparkly outfits are more technically advanced than I think most of us here know.
Regarding your other comments, come on. Look at the female and male divers, who wear VERY different suits than the lap swimmers precisely because they have to perform intricate moves in the air. You can’t possibly think these athletes are dressing for the camera. I’m very confident in suggesting that they care less about what the opposite sex thinks of them than beating their competition and winning a medal. t
Regarding equestrian garb, first, it is based on tradition and second, are you REALLY going to ride effectively in a bikini or speedo? Be realistic. You can lose the jacket, but you can’t lose the shirt, the breeches, the boots, the helmet, the gloves and effectively ride at that level. You can’t possibly disagree with that.
[QUOTE=J-Lu;8796396]
Regarding equestrian garb, first, it is based on tradition and second, are you REALLY going to ride effectively in a bikini or speedo? Be realistic. You can lose the jacket, but you can’t lose the shirt, the breeches, the boots, the helmet, the gloves and effectively ride at that level. You can’t possibly disagree with that.[/QUOTE]
You can, and in the interest of safety, should lose the hunter hair and hairnet…
I am part of an Absolutely Positive Women Group and we have 2 professional bra fitters in our group.
Is the hunter hairnet different to just putting on a hairnet? Why is the hunter hairnet dangerous?
I wear glasses. If I put my hair in a pony tail I find it pushes the helmet onto my glasses. I actually prefer the hairnets. I even use it at home.
I leave my hair down. I don’t tuck it up or tie it. I just put the net over the top. It is neater that way and stops my hair flapping.
[QUOTE=Madeline;8796423]
You can, and in the interest of safety, should lose the hunter hair and hairnet…[/QUOTE]
Welllllllll, that depends. Those who pile their long hair under their helmet and size their helmet to fit this are compromising safety. For sure. I don’t see as many olympians with super long hair piling it under their helmets, esp the jumpers. The longest hair seems to be with the dressage riders, many of whom wear top hats that offer Zero protection, but that’s another story.
Hunter hair/hairnet involves piling a lot of hair under your helmet, and the hairnet specifically to make sure the the hair covers just the top half of your ears. The problem is the volume of hair compromising the function of the helmet. Dressagistas have long hair, but to their credit, they confine it below the useless top hats.
[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;8796437]
I am part of an Absolutely Positive Women Group and we have 2 professional bra fitters in our group.
Is the hunter hairnet different to just putting on a hairnet? Why is the hunter hairnet dangerous?
I wear glasses. If I put my hair in a pony tail I find it pushes the helmet onto my glasses. I actually prefer the hairnets. I even use it at home.
I leave my hair down. I don’t tuck it up or tie it. I just put the net over the top. It is neater that way and stops my hair flapping.[/QUOTE]
I’d LOVE to know what they put you in, and what your uncontrollable size is.
[QUOTE=J-Lu;8796396]
I completely disagree. Most of the female gymnasts are younger than the male gymnasts. They do very different movements than the male gymnasts, and they have very different “physiological equipment”. NOBODY is sacrificing ability to perform in order to look good to the opposite sex on TV (and a creepy thought given the age of many of the gymnasts). They are wearing clothes that will win them a medal.
Those sparkly outfits are more technically advanced than I think most of us here know.
Regarding your other comments, come on. Look at the female and male divers, who wear VERY different suits than the lap swimmers precisely because they have to perform intricate moves in the air. You can’t possibly think these athletes are dressing for the camera. I’m very confident in suggesting that they care less about what the opposite sex thinks of them than beating their competition and winning a medal. t
Regarding equestrian garb, first, it is based on tradition and second, are you REALLY going to ride effectively in a bikini or speedo? Be realistic. You can lose the jacket, but you can’t lose the shirt, the breeches, the boots, the helmet, the gloves and effectively ride at that level. You can’t possibly disagree with that.[/QUOTE]
Wow, you just don’t get sarcasm, do you? 
I’m kinda digging the super short loose shorts the male runners wear. :yes:
[QUOTE=Albion;8794195]
Male and female gymnasts aren’t judged on the same criteria. E.g. you don’t see “dance” moves from the men in the floor routine (the men don’t compete to music at all). There is much more emphasis on “artistry” in women’s gymnastics - think of how women move on beam. Men don’t need to emphasize length of line; women do.
Male dancers don’t wear high cut leotards either; doesn’t mean issues related to line aren’t important for female dancers and/or they’re doing it simply to titillate the audience.[/QUOTE]
Male dancers wear long tights and tuck in their shirts, which gives the leg quite long lines too. This guy even has a costume with color blocking that divides the ‘torso’ from the ‘leg’ just above his abs.
Oh, and I know nothing about gymnastics, male or female, so I’m not actually arguing any side. I just thought I’d throw some more info on dance-wear into the mix. 
[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;8795395]
Don’t take the jacket off me. I am big breasted and the jacket helps with me not being self conscious. This means non horsey men would not be watching the horse.
I don’t want my sex selling![/QUOTE]
Elite athletes don’t generally have enough body fat to have uncontrollable sized breasts. Recreational athlete attire certainly doesn’t need to be the same.
I think it’s ridiculous equestrian sports haven’t kept up with the times regarding attire. They should absolutely be wearing tech shirts and helmets. Not shad bellies…
I could see nice vests or tech type polos and breeches and boots and a helmet of course. The shad belly always reminds me of Victor Borgia sitting down at the piano. Or an undertaker. It looks ridiculous in this day and age. I wish we could make the change.
Much like the top hat used to be the goal for dressage riders, I think a whole lot of dressage riders who have not gotten to FEI yet would be disappointed for the shadbelly to totally disappear.
I’ve gone down the centerline in my shad, so I’d be fine to never wear it again.
I love watching these beautiful bodies, male or female…it is poetry in motion to watch the running, or the diving shots, etc.
As far as I recall, the suits of the female beach volleyball was mandated to be a certain size, no larger. This was from the Old Men’s Club, right?
Camera angles on the women’s teams was quite different to the men’s - crotch, butt and breast shots emphasized. Still is.
Then in 2012, when certain Arabic countries sent athletes, this had to be changed so the women could play, covered from heat to toe, poor things in the heat.
Professional football - women love the tight pants the men wear, and the camera knows that.
The make up and glitzy outfits, love them, too, but behind the glitz are sponsors and judges tend to have a bias, not just for the moves. We would know if the World Champion went out there in a simple leotard and no makeup???
Sexualization of men or women in the objective sports - hmmm…
I prefer the helmet look to top hat look…
But the rest of the look of uniform is so darned handsome, men or women.
We wouldn’t expect our equine partners to put up with extra clothing in the heat, would we?
