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Olympic Figure Skater Outfits


MamaBearTeacher
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I used to watch figure skating a lot but I haven't much over the past 10+ years.  I was watching some recently and I noticed that the women's outfits show more on the rear than they used to.  I guess this is the norm now?  It made me a bit sad because a lot of these skaters are quite young and they probably don't have much choice and they are athletes who have trained for years and years, not models.  Anyways, it just made me sad.

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The Katerina Rule was made in 1988.

 

I thought one of the commentators this year said it had recently been reversed, which seems to be true since there were a number of outfits consisting of leggings and no skirt.

 

The Katerina Rule was that the female skaters had to have a proper skirt (no feather/fringe-type business), right?

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I skated in the late 70's/early 80's and followed figure skating pretty closely through the Michelle Kwan era. In watching these Olympics, I noted that skirts are longer than they used to be. I noticed the female Russian pair skater's free skate polka-dot dress probably broke the Katarina rule, but that's the only one to catch my attention so far.

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I'm not bothered at all my the current skaters' apparel. Its Johnny Weir's outfits that are a hoot. But, I love his and Tara's uninhibited commentary.

His outfits and hairdo look like they came right from the Panem Capitol. He just needs to add some colored eyebrows and a bit of glitter and he could host the Hunger Games... :lol:

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The ladies outfits didn't start that way though. In warm ups they looked fine. I strongly believe, after re-watching the pairs skate, that the giant wedgies are happening after the throw twist, and some after the dismount from a lift. The number of times the guys are holding them up by their waists..things slide. 

 

Also, I know the illusion can bother people, but skating tights are VERY thick. So everything IS being covered very well, even if it doesn't look like it. 

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In the article linked above, it seemed like all the outfits back to the '40's had understuff that was meant to be seen - leotards and so forth. And the skirts as far back as the '60's were pretty short. I mean, maybe there's an inch or so difference, but it's all short. And these young women are athletes. I think it's like performing in a leotard in a dance class. The skirt isn't really covering anything no matter what. It's just there to look nice.

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I’ve been watching skating for a long time, just like everyone else, and oddly enough I was thinking to myself, “Gee, their leotards are coving more than they used to in the past.†Except for that yellow polka-dotted one. That was a wedgie-leotard.

 

Sometimes I think the leotard is cut too small, but sometimes I think it’s that the movements they’re doing gives them a wedgie. Maybe different makers of the costumes are better at making them non-wedgie than others?

 

But I haven’t seen all the skating, so maybe I missed the skimpier ones that you saw.

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It's too bad the leotard isn't just stitched as part of the tights, or that they can't use "butt stick" like some girls do in gymnastics that sticks the leo to their bottom to avoid wedgies. Last night I couldn't help thinking how distracting it would be to get a wedgie while doing all that cool stuff.

 

I know I shouldn't go there, but the other night one of the male speed skaters had a really uncomfortably noticeable frontal wedgie.  And I'm not one to notice these things usually.  Guys - please make sure your unitard is long enough in the torso!  And, yeah, I couldn't help thinking how uncomfortable it would have to be to skate really really fast with things so tight down there!

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It's too bad the leotard isn't just stitched as part of the tights, or that they can't use "butt stick" like some girls do in gymnastics that sticks the leo to their bottom to avoid wedgies. Last night I couldn't help thinking how distracting it would be to get a wedgie while doing all that cool stuff.

Yes, I’m thinking the whole time, “Wedgie! Ouch!â€

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I know I shouldn't go there, but the other night one of the male speed skaters had a really uncomfortably noticeable frontal wedgie. And I'm not one to notice these things usually. Guys - please make sure your unitard is long enough in the torso! And, yeah, I couldn't help thinking how uncomfortable it would have to be to skate really really fast with things so tight down there!

Lol!!!! Is it wrong to admit I caught that too???

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Lol!!!! Is it wrong to admit I caught that too???

  Reminds me of a conversation I overheard in my bus riding days.  I was sitting behind a group of ladies who were discussing their seating preference on the bus.  One lady had the others giggling when she admitted that she preferred the aisle seat because it put her up close and at eye level to standing males.

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I wish they would go back to basics so we are just watching the artistry of the performer not the choice of costume. I think a simple dance dress (leotard with skirt) could be just as nice  as something covered in sequins that cost hundreds of dollars. 

 

I believe skater tights are opaque, even if flesh colored, so even in the case of the wedgie we aren't seeing anything. The basic design is based on the ability to have freedom to move.

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I wish they would go back to basics so we are just watching the artistry of the performer not the choice of costume. I think a simple dance dress (leotard with skirt) could be just as nice  as something covered in sequins that cost hundreds of dollars. 

 

I believe skater tights are opaque, even if flesh colored, so even in the case of the wedgie we aren't seeing anything. The basic design is based on the ability to have freedom to move.

 

I don't know that they necessarily detract from the artistry. I was watching some old clips of Johnny Weir's and noticed that the sequins along the back and arms were deliberately placed to catch the light and form intriguing lines while he was doing certain spins. It looked really cool.

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I know I shouldn't go there, but the other night one of the male speed skaters had a really uncomfortably noticeable frontal wedgie.  And I'm not one to notice these things usually.  Guys - please make sure your unitard is long enough in the torso!  And, yeah, I couldn't help thinking how uncomfortable it would have to be to skate really really fast with things so tight down there!

 

I was going to say the exact same thing. It also left nothing to the imagination about the rest of his parts either. I'm not a man but OUCH!

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  Reminds me of a conversation I overheard in my bus riding days.  I was sitting behind a group of ladies who were discussing their seating preference on the bus.  One lady had the others giggling when she admitted that she preferred the aisle seat because it put her up close and at eye level to standing males.

 

Oh dear!  :lol:

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Yes. I was actually uncomfortable during part of their performance because of it. (I get that not everyone is, but not much was actually being covered.)

I’m sure the skater was uncomfortable as well, since it was clearly a wedgie caused by her movements and not an intentional fashion choice.
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I loved Katerina Witt.

 

I loved her too.  And she actually had a curvy figure.  DH and I were talking about all the girls being so flat-chested.  I know a lot of Olympic athletes are because they work out so hard from a young age.  But it seems more prevalent?  Is that just my perception?

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It's too bad the leotard isn't just stitched as part of the tights, or that they can't use "butt stick" like some girls do in gymnastics that sticks the leo to their bottom to avoid wedgies. Last night I couldn't help thinking how distracting it would be to get a wedgie while doing all that cool stuff.

 

Female skaters go through tons of tights. They are constantly getting holes/rips. Stitching them to the dress would be problematic.

 

Bought SO many pairs of tights during my daughters' 16 years of skating!

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I'm not bothered at all my the current skaters' apparel.  Its Johnny Weir's outfits that are a hoot.  But, I love his and Tara's uninhibited commentary.

 

 

Yes! I love hearing them comment.  If they could just get rid of the 3rd wheel. Gannon adds nothing to the commentary.

 

 

 

As far as the outfits, I was thinking they were looking more "modest" . Styles change. when they showed a clip of Scott Hamilton winning in 84,all I could think was that it was wonderful that the men no  longer dressed that way. :D

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I loved her too. And she actually had a curvy figure. DH and I were talking about all the girls being so flat-chested. I know a lot of Olympic athletes are because they work out so hard from a young age. But it seems more prevalent? Is that just my perception?

Flat chested in their leos or in street clothes too? Goodness knows, if I’m flying through the air, I’m gonna strap those suckers down by whatever means necessary lol
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I loved her too.  And she actually had a curvy figure.  DH and I were talking about all the girls being so flat-chested.  I know a lot of Olympic athletes are because they work out so hard from a young age.  But it seems more prevalent?  Is that just my perception?

 

I noticed a few were looking like they had a pretty low fat ratio compared to what I'm use to seeing, it reminded me of the body-builder body type women get.

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I only get into ice skating during the Olympics and don't have the background some of you here do. Since Johnny Wier is being discussed, I just add my two cents.. it is somewhat distracting when he gets on the air. He's had his time in the spotlight as a skater. Yet, he seems to still want and need the focus on himself by unusual appearance and behavior. He did this in Rio too. I would say that rules of etiquette for a commentator should be to avoid extremes in appearance. It distracts from the commentating and the sport in general. D

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  Reminds me of a conversation I overheard in my bus riding days.  I was sitting behind a group of ladies who were discussing their seating preference on the bus.  One lady had the others giggling when she admitted that she preferred the aisle seat because it put her up close and at eye level to standing males.

 

Reverse the genders in this story and I imagine the general reaction of the board would be quite different.

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Anyone else see I, Tanya? I was thinking how interesting it is that she was sewing her own costumes the best she could while Nancy Kerrigan was wearing things designed for her by big, famous names.

 

I wanted to see this but it's not showing anywhere near me. Guess I'll have to wait for Netflix.

 

However, I did watch the documentary--forget which station did it--and it was fascinating.

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Yes! I love hearing them comment.  If they could just get rid of the 3rd wheel. Gannon adds nothing to the commentary.

 

 

 

As far as the outfits, I was thinking they were looking more "modest" . Styles change. when they showed a clip of Scott Hamilton winning in 84,all I could think was that it was wonderful that the men no  longer dressed that way. :D

 

I see him as the "adult" of the bunch, allowing NBC to cover their a** by not allowing Johnny and Tara free reign...

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I’ve been live streaming the skating via the NBC app on my Apple TV and prefer the international announcers over the NBC team’s blah-blah-blah-look-at-me silliness. I don’t even know who the announcers on that feed are—one is an Australian woman, and she’s good. They don’t even show their faces.

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I’ve been live streaming the skating via the NBC app on my Apple TV and prefer the international announcers over the NBC team’s blah-blah-blah-look-at-me silliness. I don’t even know who the announcers on that feed are—one is an Australian woman, and she’s good. They don’t even show their faces.

I really wish NBC made it easier for non cable tv users to view the games. Edited by Rach
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I know I shouldn't go there, but the other night one of the male speed skaters had a really uncomfortably noticeable frontal wedgie. And I'm not one to notice these things usually. Guys - please make sure your unitard is long enough in the torso! And, yeah, I couldn't help thinking how uncomfortable it would have to be to skate really really fast with things so tight down there!

Noticed.

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