Watching the Olympics, one thing that stands out in the gymnastics Isctgat the men's and women's competitions appear to be further apart from each other than ever before. Obviously they are comprised of different apparatus disciplines, but even in those that cross over both the men's and women's competitions, such as the floor routine, the difference is stark. The men's routine is a matter of fact show of skill and power. It's amazing. If anything, the women's skill at tumbling is even more spectacular to watch, but it's broken up with so much flourish now that they are like prancing dressage ponies. Bum wiggles and a flash of pearly whites, even a theatrical wink. Dance elements have been present for years, but it's like half of the competitors are on Miss World. It seems less about a display of grace and firm, and more about flirty sexual allure.
Add to this the costumes. The men's plainish but functional wear is so different from the sequinned, glittery costumes of the women. One Canadisn girl's leotard was cut so high on the hip that it showed more of her public line than I'd ever want to see in a sports contest, not because it is unattractive, but because it's a shame to think that these athletes should be judged even a tiny bit on beauty (not of form but dress, sexual allure and make up) than the absolutely mind-blowing skill they are there to demonstrate.
And the make-up! Some of them look like they've been done up with Homer's make up gun, set to 'Barbara Cartland'. Big glittery blue eyeshadow, FAKE EYELASHES, bright dis his lips. Again, it's not the aesthetic that bothers me so much, but the fact that these athletes feel the need to paint themselves line dolls, and there is no way that false eyelashes are practical in a gymnastics arena. I've never seen so much make up worn as in this competition.
On a positive note, there's a much wider range of body shapes in the female competition than ever before. There was a standard body shape that Svetlana Khorkina alone, 16 years or so ago, broke with her extremely tall, lithe frame. Now there are tall, short, very slight and very much more muscly and string powerhouse body shapes, and it brings a degree of variety to performance style.