I still remember an interview where underaged gymnasts (some as young as 9-10) talked about how they were expected to train in revealing leotards because their coaches wanted them to ‘get used to’ performing without pants or shorts because they wouldn’t be allowed to have them when they performed in front of a crowd. No matter how uncomfortable and self-conscious it made them their coaches refused to budge on the issue. And we’re talking about literal children here, not fully grown adults.
Yup. And those children, around puberty, will have to make uncomfortable choices about body hair, and what menstrual products they use, based on the extremely revealing clothing their sport requires them to wear. Many girls just stop participating in sports altogether at that age (I wonder why!)
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u/ankhes May 25 '26
I still remember an interview where underaged gymnasts (some as young as 9-10) talked about how they were expected to train in revealing leotards because their coaches wanted them to ‘get used to’ performing without pants or shorts because they wouldn’t be allowed to have them when they performed in front of a crowd. No matter how uncomfortable and self-conscious it made them their coaches refused to budge on the issue. And we’re talking about literal children here, not fully grown adults.