Be Excellent To Each Other

There's no way to know if the women are doing it for themselves, but the fact that in the space of a few years the competition has gone from bare skin or very minimal makeup to glitter eyeshadow and false eyelashes being pretty much universal perhaps suggests that the competitors feel the need to, unless that generation of athlete is very different from preceding ones?

And I'm skeptical it is for themselves simply because it is impractical. Sweating with make up causes blocked pores, but things like glitter eyeshadow and false lashes? You're about to somersault on a piece of leather wrapped wood and metal, four inches wide. Really, don't get glitter or an errant false lash in your eye...

It's not just basic make up, some look like painted dolls. And are the bum wiggles and theatrical winks for the performers themselves? Maybe they are, but as a spectator I just wish that this window dressing didn't detract from the mind-blowing amounts of skill and hard work of the tumbling and apparatus work itself. In that regards, I wish it were closer to the men's competition.

This is just one of the gymnasts. She's not got the false eyelashes, but she has bright blue glitter all over her eyes.

Just had a quick look at the 1996 photos for gymnastics.

Looks like the uniforms and make up are similar to now.

"Researching a book"

Yes...

Shall we work on it together?

Really? I've just read-checked and I simply don't see that at all. Obviously I am not talking about the Rhythmic gymnast disciplines which are a different thing all together.

http://makeuppix.com/2014/08/17/olympic+gymnasts+makeup

There is a web site... google are going to have a field day with my search history

That website does not give a counterpoint to anything I've said, though. There's one picture of a Brazillian gymnast with colourful eye make up that is perhaps close to today's gymnasts, but it is only from a couple of years ago and the article says that the make up should be natural and not detract from the performance, adding (note:Brazil).

Also, even if it had been the case for 20, 50, 100 years, it doesn't in anyway detract room the fact that there is a massive gulf between how practical the men's and women's costumes are and that glitter and fake eyelashes around the eyes are both impractical and (potentially) dangerous if either were to get into the eye mid-performance. The sequins and glitter are a lot more prevalent in gymnastics than, say, marathon running, though both are sports that highlight the human body's amazing abilities at extremes. Endurance of the runner, precision, flexibility and strength of the gymnast.

It was from 1996 wasn't it? so quite a while ago.

I suppose it is the same in ballroom dancing.

The marathon kit is designed to wick, to get rig of sweat. The gym kit not so much

Even it up by adding sequins and glitter to all the events.

Speaking of sports clothing and accessories, you cannot beat Super Mario, such as turning up dressed as Julius Caesar, or a tiger. Or a flayed petson. Or smoking. Or making phone calls whilst competing.

2012.

Ballroom Dancing is not an Olympic sport. There are many that would say it is not a sport at all, but however it is classified it's not comparible here.

Gymnasts sweat. Watch the routines and the women and men both sweat, which is another reason lots of make up is not a great idea as it blocks the pores and doesn't allow sweat to escape.

Im not sure what point you are making at all.

I think my point is it is not dangerous and is used in other competitive areas (dancing and ice skating)

I don't think it detracts from the events.

That is only my view

I've had eye glitter in my eye from doing shows, it hurts like crap. If your experiences are different, fair enough. I was just standing up though, so maybe it's easier to deal with when you are swinging around a couple of bars.

You don't think it detracts from the spectacle of the performance itself, which is fine, but I do. But it's not just about the make up. It's the high cut legs, the theatrical winks and bum wiggles. It seems to be sexualising the sport for female competitors in a way that the men's competition that does not. It seems to be more prevalent this year than ever before, in a sport I have watched very closely for years.

Yes, ice skaters are similar in their attire, but that doesn't mean it is necessary or enhancing to either sport. Not to the SPORTS element, anyway, which I think is what is most important when you want to be the best in the world. I noticed it more in gymnastics as its on, right now, at the Olympics. Ice skating is not. I do not think the comparison to ballroom dancing is a useful one, as before.

Also, in your other two examples (Ice skating and ballroom dancing) the male competitors are similarly attired to the women. They also are sequinned, coiffeured and glittered. The notable thing in gymnastics is the increasing gulf in this respect between male and female competitors.

I agree with mimi here. The whole thing just seems terribly anachronistic and I wonder where it all comes from.

The sexualising of the female competition is made worse by the fact that you get a lot of very young competitors. It's like some sort of weird Toddlers and Tiaras sideshow element to what should just be about the athleticism and grace of the competitor.

i agree with you.

To be fair, I had not noticed the make up till you pointed it out. I think it was on in the back ground.

i prefer sports, where you are faster, stronger, first past the line. Kind of sports, not ones judged

I think they are trying to I still elements of more objective judging into gymnastic disciplines (such as 'time of flight', the sum of in-air time of the eight highest scoring elements) in trampoline, but trampoline is only recently an Olympic inclusion, and though as a sport in its own right has been around a while is really only garnering attention in recent years. Maybe it is easier to instil new ideas into younger sports. That said, it's not long since gymnastics had a whole new scoring system.

I like athletics events, but I see some magic of the human form in gymnastic achievements.

Ali Brownlee just destroyed the triathlon field. The Guardian liveblog updates on the Olympics continue to be brilliant.

I watched it. Was nearly late for Tri training. Ironically.

Just watched the men's floor finals. With one gymnast left to perform (USA), GB was in 1st, and Brazil in 2nd and 3rd. Every time the USA athlete made a stumble or mistake the crowd was whooping and cheering. Understandable that they wanted to retain the two medal positions, but really bad supporter sportsmanship. I've inly seen that once before in gymnastics, and it's unpleasant.

That head been going on in all events, did you see the tennis?

There was a BBC thing about it the other day.

No, I e only watched the gymnastics. That's a big shame.

The bmx last night was good, recommended viewing.

Like rain on your wedding day.

Or a free ride, when you have already paid.

It's a triathlon when you're already late.

None of these are acceptable as the title of a sex tape. Must try harder to impress DavPaz, guys.

Indeed

My jimmies are unruffled

Title of your Dying Sad and Alone Tape.

Wow. Nice

Harsh....

I seem to have overstepped the mark in the name of trying to be funny. Apologies.

Timing!

That's ok bud. Took me by surprise is all

It was nothing personal at you, it was just trying to be the worst opposite of a sex tape. I dunno, I didn't want to offend.

I feel terrible.

Don't mate. It's all fine.

Here's a sexist gif to cheer you up

Gold in the women's Taekwon-do.

And yet oddly, watching the Taekwon-do (which is apparently based on the World Taekwon-do Federation style, and not the International Taekwon-do Federation style that Jem and I are learning) it looks completely and utterly different to anything we're doing.

And here's your gif.

You mean that they're doing it properly?

It was just a joke. Why is everyone so sensitive?

You don't get a gif.

Regarding whether the leotards of gymnasts have actually changed in recent years to become more sequinned and adorned rather than practical/functional.

'In the last century, Olympic leotards didn't differ much from the outfit your sister would wear to ballet class. Then the sparkling fad began.
In 2008, Nastia Liukin's leotard for the Beijing games had 184 crystals on it. By 2012, Gabby Douglas had 1,188 on hers. Now that figure has nearly quadrupled. "We're in a crystal arms race," Swarovski's Alexander Wellhoefer has said.
The cost of those dazzling Team USA outfits?
About $1,200 (£912) each.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37100585

We are watching the women's team Synchronised Swimming. Whether you think the sport is snack g or ridiculous (wrong, it is both) the synchronised walking routine and random Synchro-poses before the competitors get to the pool is both the most amazing and worst thing in the universe.

It is well snack g

It's the snackiest of all the Gs

The ladies I was hanging with this morning have said exactky the same!

Hockey: longest medal ceremony, ever