1996 saw the addition of the Olympics. Now, it’s one of the Games’ most popular activities.
Some athletes in sports like and Kerri Walsh Jennings, for instance, became family names after taking home many trophies for beach volleyball.
Usually, what people wear on the court generates as much press as the sport itself — over the years, some have critiqued the club’s usually little children’s clothes, but according to athletes themselves, there are reasons why bikinis are desirable for play.
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Away, learn about the causes of beach tennis clothing and how they’ve evolved since.
A’ Small’ History
Beach volleyball’s beachside causes explain why for centuries, athletes have worn outfits resembling, i. electronic. bikini briefs.
Olympic champion April Ross told the Associated Press in 2021 that “beach tennis was a game that was developed in Hawaii, Southern California, and on the shores of Rio.” ” You play, and it’s warm, and then you go and hop in the water”.
Even a little rain does n’t stop the game: some beach volleyball athletes at the 2024 Olympics, for example, have been faced with showers as continues to brace for gloomy weather.
” This is just another reason why we play in cleaning suits”, May-Treanor said following a storm at the 2008 Games.
Uniform Options
Today, female athletes are n’t required to wear bikini briefs during competition. People can still choose to wear two items, but also one-pieces and short-sleeve heads. In cold weather or for spiritual reasons, long-sleeve heads and leggings are permitted as well. Lastly, there are two distinct size selections for shorts.
More dress choices were made ahead of the 2012 London Olympics to promote the sport’s adoption. Before then, ladies wore the usual underwear uniform.
The club’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball ( FIVB), said this was to hold people from different backgrounds. According to FIVB official Richard Baker,” Many of these locations have religious and cultural needs, so the standard needed to be more flexible,” Baker told the Associated Press in 2012.
Men, on the other hand, use tank tops and bottoms resembling table clothes. In some beach volleyball events outside of the Olympics, it’s usual for men to go naked. In event it gets cold, they also have long-sleeve top and pants.
All people are permitted to wear hats and sunglasses.
Uniform Guidelines
Depending on each dress, the FIVB requires precise measurements. For example, bikini bottoms must have a waistband of no more than 2.8 inches, and men can’t wear shorts longer than 3.9 inches above the knee.
All uniforms must have “a nearby match,” according to the FIVB. There are administrative grounds for this, according to Olympic beach volleyball player Jennifer Kessy. She told Today in 2021, “Our suits need to fit just right so they don’t move places we don’t want them to move. A designed suit is important.”
Women’s briefs “should get cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg,” while one-pieces “must carefully fit and have an open back and lower chest design.”
Knee-length pants are “recommended to feature total length of 18.5 inches and 1.2 inches above the knee.” Full-length pants may be around 35 feet long.
Friends have to wear matching clothing, while symbols and text furthermore have sizing guidelines.
Those who don’t comply to the FIVB’s uniform rules risk fines and penalties, possibly including disqualification.
Why Some Athletes Prefer Bikinis
Bikinis are a popular choice for beach volleyball, according to many beach tennis players. Sand is omitted from sing by two pieces, which prevent it from getting trapped in the standard. According to Kessy, this is the reason why she doesn’t wear a one-piece.
“Imagine if you had to dive neck first and bury more dust than you could possibly believe down the front of your coat because it restricted and restricted my movements. It’s difficult to get out of there and you can’t keep it there. I found myself adjusting my one-piece all the time and while it was embarrassing, confident, it also took my target off the suit I was playing,” she explained to Today.
Even so, Egyptian players like Doaa Elghobashyy are open to wearing more moderate uniforms. “I have worn the dress for 10 times,” she told the AP in 2016. Beach volleyball is one of the things that it doesn’t prevent me from doing, and it’s one of them.