New Zealand Will Now Allow Women Gymnasts To Wear Shorts Or Leggings Over Their Leotards To Compete
Gymnastics New Zealand said it made the decision to overhaul its uniform rules after surveying competitive gymnasts.
Women gymnasts in New Zealand are now allowed to wear shorts or leggings over their leotards while competing.
They will also not have to face penalties for having visible underwear or bra straps during competitions.
Gymnastics New Zealand (GNZ), the country's national governing body for gymnastics, made the decision to overhaul its uniform rules after surveying competitive gymnasts.
“The changes are about making athletes – the majority of whom are young [women] – feel comfortable and safe and ensuring the sport is fully inclusive,” GNZ’s chief executive said in a statement.
The move also addresses a gender equity issue, as men have been allowed to compete in shorts or trousers but women haven’t, it said.
GNZ said that easing the attire rules could encourage more girls to participate and stay in the sport.
Upon collecting nearly 300 responses, GNZ said it found that athletes wanted to "feel comfortable and safe" while participating in the sport.
One of the studies conducted by Gymnastics New Zealand revealed that most young women are dropping out of gymnastics as well as other active recreation because they felt “vulnerable” and “embarrassed” in some of the sport's uniforms.
It said that its survey found that regulations around underwear “unclear and unevenly applied” and “a little archaic.”
"Gymnastics is a tough enough sport without having to stress about incurring a deduction because a judge can see your bra strap," GNZ officials said.
However, the updated regulations will only apply to competitions in New Zealand.
For international competitions, gymnasts will have to follow the rules of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which mandate that women wear a, "correct sportive non-transparent leotard or unitard which must be of elegant design."
If a woman athlete violates the attire during individual or team routines, they could have 0.30 to 1.00 points deducted from the final score.
Several cases of sexual abuse have come to the fore in gymnastics, which is frequently sexualized, prompting calls for new safety measures aimed at protecting the athletes.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers, the German women’s gymnastics team competed in unitards instead of the traditional leotards to stand against the sexualization of the sport.
Sofia Hou
Steph Lu
Emily Chen
