For you fans of women’s gymnastics: Watch for a change in what the athletes wear

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Leading British gymnasts have spoken out against “outdated and sexist” regulations concerning the leotards they can wear for competitions.

Jennifer Pinches, a retired gymnast who represented Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, said the rules for attire at competitions were “perpetuating extremely harmful ideals”.

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German gymnasts wore full bodysuits at last week's European Championships in Switzerland as a way of making a stance against the "sexualization" of the sport's female athletes.

Sarah Voss, one of three who competed in the outfit during the women's all-around final on Friday, said she wants to be a "role model for young gymnasts who don't feel very safe in every situation."

"To do splits and jumps, sometimes the leotards are not covering everything, sometimes they slip and that's why we invented a new form of leotard so that everyone feels safe around competitions and training," Voss told the BBC.

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... [the] team was making a point against "sexualization in gymnastics" — a pertinent issue given the sport's history of sexual abuse.

In 2018, Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, was convicted of sexually assaulting more than 265 minors dating back to 1993. He was given a 175-year prison sentence.

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