As Australia charged into the women's water polo final at the Paris Olympics this week, viewers couldn't help but notice how high-cut and tight the swimsuits on all the players seem to be. But a former Australian squad member has told Yahoo Sport Australia there's a very good reason for it.
Social media has been awash with fans saying the suits look to be two-to-three times too small for the athletes - but that's because they usually are. According to former Australia player Elly Pickles (nee Goodwin), the high-riding suits serve a very specific purpose.
The swimsuits are designed to prevent opposition players grabbing onto any excess material underwater - a common tactic in water polo due to the fact it's hard for referees to police because they can't see it. Water polo players are known to get kicked and punched underwater, with many opting to wear two suits because they frequently get ripped.
But by wearing them skin-tight they're less likely to get grabbed, and the players can avoid being dragged underwater illegally. Water polo swimsuits are also made of very durable fabric, and utilise a full back rather than straps.
Why are the water polo swimsuits so high cut?
The other reason they're so high-cut is because of the amount of work the water polo players do with their legs. Because their feet can't touch the bottom of the pool, water polo players are constantly treading water by moving their legs in a circular motion to stay afloat (known as the 'egg beater'). If the swimsuits were any less high-cut it would cause too much restriction in the area and not allow the players a full range of motion with their legs.
"It's all the leg work," Pickles told Yahoo Sport Australia, explaining why the athletes don't like the suit to touch the tops of their thighs. "The cossies are deliberately tight and when you 'egg beat' (the practice of making circles with your legs underwater) your legs are wide and you are usually in a seated position."
Pickles represented Australia at junior and university level, and was called into the Stingers squad in 2011 but wasn't able to play. A former National League All-Star, Pickles has coached current Stingers players Sienna Hearn, Bronte Halligan and Tillie Kearns.
"Bronte is a fantastic leader," Pickles said. "A cut above her peers from a young age and fun to coach because she can do everything."
When is Australia's women's water polo final against Spain?
The Aussie Stingers will face off against Spain in the gold medal match at 11.35pm on Saturday night (AEST). After taking down the all-mighty USA in a dramatic penalty shootout in the semi-finals, the Stingers have a chance to emulate the 2000 team that won gold in Sydney.
Twenty-four years since winning the most celebrated match in their history, they are back in a potentially sport-changing Olympic final. "I believe this is a big moment in Australia," said coach Bec Rippon. "It feels significant to be back up there, showing water polo is still strong and still important."
Female athletes given choice to wear same uniforms as men
The issue of what female athletes wear compared to their male counterparts always comes up at every Olympics, and the Paris Games has been no exception. There have been constant complaints over the years that the women's uniforms are designed to sexualise them rather than showcase their athletic prowess, and sports like beach volleyball and athletics are the main targets.
But the reality is usually very different, and the female athletes actually have the choice to wear the same designs as the men in most cases. The beach volleyball players usually wear a bikini, which doesn't look all that out of place when they're competing on the sand.
But questions always come up about why athletes in events like running, pole vault and high jump seem to wear uniforms that resemble swimwear. In most cases the female athletes have a multitude of choices about what to wear, and can opt for baggy tops and shorts if they choose.
But in events like pole vault and running, the athletes opt for as little fabric as possible so they can be aerodynamic and not have any extra clothing to slow them down or knock off the bar. American pole vaulter Katie Moon - who won silver behind Australia's Nina Kennedy in Paris - has previously revealed how she opts for the swimsuit look because she doesn't want her uniform sticking to her when she sweats.
"I absolutely love people defending women, but we have at least 20 different combinations of a uniform to compete in with all the tops and bottoms available to us," she said previously. "We do have the men’s option available to us if we want it.
"If you honestly think that on the most important days of our careers we’re choosing what we wear to appease the men watching over what we’re most comfortable and confident in, to execute to the best of our abilities, that’s pretty offensive. I personally like the buns (swimsuit bottoms) because I want as little fabric clinging to me when I’m hot and sweaty (which I am at 99% of meets I compete in). The point is we DO have the choice of what to wear, and whether we feel the best in a potato sack or a bathing suit during competitions, we should support the autonomy."
Beach volleyballers can wear shorts or pants rather than bikinis
Beach volleyball players are also given a choice of what to wear, with many opting for shorts or pants at the Paris Games instead of the traditional bikini. Brazilian pair Ana Patrícia Ramos and Duda Lisboa were wearing shorts as they won the gold medal on Friday night, while silver medallists Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada donned the bikini bottoms.
"We want women to have a choice in beach volleyball," said French athletes Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette earlier in the Games. Retired player Jennifer Kessy previously said she prefers the bikini because she doesn't want sand getting into her uniform. Since 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also asked the media to offer "gender-equal representation", citing the need for "sport appeal, not sex appeal."
