It’s undeniably impressive that Olympic gymnasts compete without falling eyelashes or hair in a bun, but have you ever wondered how they sprint, leap, and flip while avoiding major wedges? In fact, it’s no coincidence that their signature leotards are designed to last forever: a very deliberate custom design keeps the fabric from slipping or sliding around.
According to Jeanne Diaz, design director at GK Elite, the exclusive supplier of on-mat outfits for U.S. Olympic gymnasts, it comes down to two main factors: fit and materials. “A well-fitting leotard is the most effective way to avoid back discomfort while competing,” Diaz tells SELF. “GK has spent decades developing and innovating unique designs, patterns and specialty fabrics to ensure perfect fit and performance for our athletes.”
“GK uses a variety of fabrics across their Olympic designs,” she adds, often with nylon or polyester-spandex as the base. Some leopards are also embellished with mesh, jacquard mesh (a special circular weave that’s highly breathable) and stretch satin. “Some fabrics have metallic foil on a nylon/spandex base,” Diaz says, for a classic shine.
And these stunning costumes don’t just happen overnight: The design process actually begins about two years before the Olympics. Each leotard is tailored to an athlete’s specific measurements, and to accommodate changing bodies, GK Elite “measures and fits every single national team player every year,” Diaz says. Then they make any necessary modifications.
Once the design is finalized, the Leo will be cut and assembled at Elite Sportswear’s headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania (and the Olympics won’t be the first time athletes have tried them on). Try on and test With the Olympics finally upon us, Diaz said Goalkeeper Elite will be sending a few extra Leopards to the U.S. team “just in case.”
Body glue (which gymnasts affectionately call “butt glue”) and special underwear can help prevent wedges, but “they’re no substitute for a well-fitting leotard,” says Diaz. But many gymnasts don’t want to take the risk: opting for wedgie-proof materials isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s also likely to hurt their final score if they fiddle with the fabric mid-performance. So some go the extra mile and literally glue the fabric to their skin.
“A lot of people put adhesive spray on their bottoms to keep their leotards in place,” said gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won gold in the all-around event at the 2008 Olympics. people In 2016, she mentioned products like Tough Skin“We use it on our wrists before we put tape under the grip because we’re sweating,” he said, adding another benefit: [gives] “A little extra stick.”
Looking at all of this, you might be wondering what the designs for this year’s Olympics will be. For the first time, Team USA’s leotards will be Released before the OlympicsIt is decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals and pearls (“a tribute to the host city, Paris”). replica Although they are made to fit your favorite gymnast, they don’t receive the same custom treatment as official “fits,” so be careful if you’re buying them. Might be It doesn’t have the same anti-digging function.
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