Representation matters in everything.

and while a good many of the athletes are indeed still tiny--some of the exercises do favor a small frame--what I'd like to see changed is the sexualized outfits these athletes compete in. Tight and form-fitting I understand; the incredible feats these women perform would be hampered by looser outfits. There is no reason imo for the spangles and sequins, the see-through panels, and the outrageously high-cut pants (or bottoms; they aren't really pants). Tight-fitting bike-short type pants, it seems to me, of very thin Lycra would work as well.

I understand that women's gymnastic competitions are a different breed from men's competitions, which tend to focus almost entirely on muscle strength. Women demonstrate many more skills, like balance and, yes, gracefulness in movement. I do not suggest that women gymnasts should dress like their male counterparts.

Women's sports will never be taken as seriously as they should be as long as the athletes allow themselves to be dressed like showgirls without the feathers. And are all the bum-shaking moves on the floor exercises displays of athletic prowess or what?

And this begins with little girls taking gymnastics classes--sexualization continues to be a burden women's rights movements will forever battle, I guess.

on the SEC Network. We watch all winter. Tennessee doesn't have a gymnastics program (why the hell not?) but I watch for the sheer fun of it. One of my favorites, Morgan Hurd, is now competing for Florida. LSU used to have a gymnast named Ashleigh Gnat...how appropriate can you get? She was about that big, too!

to my husband that the diversity was wonderful but a long time coming. Most the athletes looked healthier than the waif like standards of the past. 🙂

Edited to correct typo from my darn iPad keyboard that isn’t as sensitive as it use to be.