Flying Lines: Swimwear for Rhythmic Gymnastics

Here, the image solves, if not everything, then much. In rhythmic gymnastics they are met by clothes.

This, perhaps, one of the most beautiful and spectacular sports, traditionally attracts many young graces every year.

This is a little later they will become Olympic champions and the pride of the country, which will be presented at prestigious competitions.

In the meantime, the first steps in sports, and a lot of questions, the main one of which is what to wear a gymnast, how to create a unique, vivid and memorable image?

Costumes have problems with professional gymnasts. A huge number of offers only makes it difficult to choose.

It so happened that in rhythmic gymnastics it is customary to perform in swimsuits. Such an outfit does not hide the figure, and judges can discern all the nuances of the athlete performing technical techniques. The skirt, even not long, can hide flaws in the exercise. And the graces themselves in it would be inconvenient.

Therefore, a swimsuit must meet all the requirements. When choosing it, it is important to remember several key points:

1. The outfit must be approved as ammunition that meets the sports criteria of the association;
2. Swimsuit should be made from environmentally friendly materials in compliance with technology, otherwise health problems cannot be avoided;
3. The costume for the performance should sit "like a glove": not a little more in size, not a little less. Any slight fluctuation will complicate the task of the athlete;
4. Swimsuit "lives" not for long: one outfit - one number. In another performance, another swimsuit is used;
5. The cost of a swimsuit will directly depend on the exclusivity of the model, the design decision, as well as the abundance of rhinestones and other decorative elements.

A long time ago, when gymnastic swimwear was modest, unpretentious and intended for a single purpose - comfort during the execution of the program. Yes, and they became elastic only in the 70s of the last century.

The 90s brought something completely new to the appearance of the swimsuit - graces began to appear in overalls. This became possible after such outfits were allowed to be used by Muslim athletes. But representatives of other faiths closed outfits liked almost immediately.

Brightness and courage gymnastic swimsuits acquired at the beginning of the "zero". So, in 2000, at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, the Association allowed the "artists" to supplement their swimsuit with a small skirt, and subsequently the ban on fringe, asymmetry, an abundance of rhinestones and a riot of colors was lifted.

Fashion trends do not stand still, annually adding more and more touches to outfits for gymnastics.

So, in 2017, at the peak of popularity, bright colors and incredible combinations of scales - the more festive the swimsuit, the better. The rule remains unchanged, requiring a certain degree of modesty from the sports equipment of the “artist” - the outfit should not be frank and challenging.

In order to emphasize the merits, and hide what should be kept secret, use flesh-colored fabric. The sleeves of the leotard are most often sewn from it — long or 3/4, small racks — collars. Sleeveless swimwear in general has recently been used less and less.

In abundance of rhinestones. Swimwear literally shine from a scattering of small stones. But sequins are gradually becoming a thing of the past - they are trying to use them to a minimum.

Everyday, training gymnastics leotards also noticeably “blossomed”. Although they are deprived of jewelry, they also now use bright fabrics to sew them. The time of identical black swimsuits has long sunk into oblivion.

The so-called "dancing swimsuits" are in great demand. They perfectly match the theme of the issue and even the music that will sound during it. The effect of the magic movement of the drawing is achieved by the careful work of the designers.

They think through applications so that individual elements visually “move” with the body of grace. This creates a truly fantastic and bewitching image. Such swimwear are sewn from elastane or polyamide.

Separate elements on it should be a solid whole so that during the performance the “dancing swimsuit” would look organically. This will require a special approach when sewing.

The most popular brands of gymnastic leotards in Russia are Arina Ballerina, PlayToday, KICKERS.

Gymnastic swimwear is a delicate matter. In the literal and figurative sense. Indeed, for the tailoring of equipment, athletes use special fabrics from which they will never produce outfits for swimmers. It is important that the suit most closely fit the figure, but not squeeze.

For this, various types of biflex are taken, most often Korean or Italian. Widely used stretch velvet. The composition of the fabric is of great importance, it should not have synthetic fibers should not prevail over natural material.

The color schemes of fabrics in 2017 give immense scope for the flight of imagination of designers. At the peak of fashion, neon colors. All shades of light green, orange, blue, red and even white. It is white that requires a considerable share of courage from the gymnast. It does not hide a single flaw.

But it is the white gymnastic leotard that gives the image charm: the girl looks more confident. Often, when decorating white swimsuits, manual embroidery is used, and this gives an additional charm.

Usually in the arsenal of a professional athlete - from 6 to 10 swimwear for performances and 2-3 training outfits.

It’s worth starting the choice only after clarifying a number of important points:

• Single or group performance to be;
• Subject numbers and the image that the gymnast should reproduce. This will be reported by the coach;
• How long does the athlete have to use a swimsuit. If this is not the Olympic Games, and there are only two and three performances, experts recommend renting a swimsuit.

When choosing a leotard for rhythmic gymnastics, you can not do without trying on. He must sit perfectly. Do not rub, crush, or sag. For this reason, buying a used outfit is not the best solution. After all, two identical figures do not exist. Each athlete has her own nuances.

It is better to consult with representatives of the regional sports association about the depth of cuts, groin lines, the presence or absence of decorative elements before buying. Some require the fabric to be opaque, while others want to see chiffon lightness. The requirements are the same for athletes of all ages.

Particular attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of the material. A gymnastic swimsuit should “breathe”, because sport is not only a bright celebration of beauty and grace, but also exhausting work. Gymnasts sweat, and therefore the outfit should compensate for the discomfort, while remaining dry. The swimsuit should stretch well, and after getting wet do not lose shape.

If you decide to sew a swimsuit to order, carefully and without fuss, you need to approach the choice of an atelier. To get acquainted with the finished works of the masters, to check whether the measurements were taken correctly. Services for tailoring gymnastic equipment are now presented in almost every city in Russia.

The price of a finished swimsuit starts from 2000 rubles and can grow to infinity, like sportsmanship. It all depends on the exclusivity of the model (serial is much cheaper), materials, and decorative decorations. Sometimes the cost of rhinestones and lace appliques exceeds the cost of design, tailoring and fabric combined. The main thing is not to overdo it - the decor should not interfere with the performance of the gymnast.

If the choice is made and the right swimsuit is purchased, it is important to remember the simple rules for caring for him.

1. Swimsuit must be washed after each performance. Even a small amount of sweat spoils the fabric and does not add charm to the athlete. This should be done exclusively by hand, in a typewriter it is strictly forbidden to wash the swimsuit. The thing is not soaked, especially in hot water, do not use bleaches and do not iron.
2. If the swimsuit is trimmed with a huge amount of rhinestones, be careful when rinsing. A few days after gluing the jewelry is better to refrain from washing. Gymnastics leotards cannot be taken in dry cleaning.
3. Hanging a wet swimsuit with water dripping is not recommended. He will lose shape. It should be dried unfolded on a soft towel with medium pile.
4. Do not store the swimsuit in the open sun. The fabric may lose its original color.It is advisable to use a cover for storage. Hanging a swimsuit is better in a dry place. Match your shoulders to the size of your swimsuit to avoid stretching.
5. If something is “torn off” or a seam has opened, do not correct the situation yourself. Take the thing in the studio, there it will be carefully repaired.
6. If the swimsuit is purchased by a child, be sure to explain to him the rules for using an elegant new thing. In gymnastic ammunition designed for performances, you do not need to roll on the carpet once more, fumble the skirt with your hands or try to see if the shiny stones are attached well. All this can lead to damage to the swimsuit.

A leotard for rhythmic gymnastics has long ceased to be just the uniform of an athlete. This is a real work of art. Like gymnastics itself, it has long been not only a demonstration of the refined technique of performing elements.

This is a mini-play, a story with a storyline. And therefore, gymnasts with the help of outfits and make-up transform into different images - into heroines of films and novels, fairy-tale characters and historical figures, fantastic and unearthly, romantic and magical. After all, their sport gives aesthetic pleasure to everyone without exception. It’s impossible not to admire the graces.