Beach front Volleyball Olympians Respond to Bikini Criticism: ‘It’s Reasonable, Valuable Attire’
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photos
The bikinis are below to remain.
Just about every Olympics, the query of why female beach volleyball athletes compete in two-piece bathing fits results in being a subject of dialogue — and the remedy is straightforward: the opponents want them.
“I experience like we have browse so lots of people today online like, ‘Let them use what they want.’ We are!” Kelly Claes, who competed for Group United states of america in Tokyo, tells Persons at the Association of Volleyball Pros (AVP)’s first article-Olympics match in Atlanta. “At the Olympics, we are permitted to have on extensive pants, turtlenecks — we can wear regardless of what we want. We all pick to wear bikinis.”
Brandie Wilkerson, a different AVP athlete who represented Canada at the Tokyo Video games, says she “enjoys” actively playing in a bikini.
“It really is smart, useful attire for becoming in the solar and the sand,” she says. “And there are lots of athletics — no a single is inquiring why you wear a bathing fit if you might be in the swimming pool.”
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil
Not all athletes on the AVP tour sport bikinis. Some competition, like Crissy Jones, routinely decide for just one-piece bathing fits, and it is prevalent to see athletes in shirts or for a longer period pants when the weather phone calls for it.
Wilkerson notes the unique designs are “an wonderful way to express by yourself.”
Adam Hagy/Getty Illustrations or photos Crissy Jones
Previous thirty day period, bikini-wearing athletes once more created headlines when the European Handball Federation fined Noway’s beach handball staff for wearing shorts relatively than the needed two-piece bathing fits. Singer Pink presented to fork out the $1,700 in fines and condemned the “sexist” uniform necessities.
“I assume when you start out proscribing the solutions, it’s a difficulty,” Wilkerson claims. “But if another person chooses to dress in anything quite modest or very massive, there should not even be a dialogue.”
Claes’ teammate Sarah Sponcil agrees — “Allow them use what they want,” she suggests — and notes that while guys usually enjoy shirtless, it really is never ever a controversy to see them putting on jerseys through the Olympic Games.
“No one is like, ‘Why are the males donning shirts?’ ” she claims.
Adam Hagy/Getty Photographs Brandie Wilkerson
In addition to their uniforms, the gals athletes have their have strategies of bringing their individual type onto the court.
“I usually have to have my nails done,” suggests Wilkerson. “I feel I’m a single of the only girls that perform with ridiculously lengthy nails, and I appreciate it.”
She adds, “You want to glimpse excellent and enjoy fantastic, at the very least that is how I am. I have no shame in that.”
The AVP volleyball year continues this weekend with the Manhattan Seashore Open, in which the winners will have their names etched in heritage on the Manhattan Seashore Pier, adopted by the Chicago Open up above Labor Day Weekend. Cannot make it in man or woman? All the action will be streaming live on Peacock.