The Most Iconic Gymnastics Leotards Ever Worn
- House of GPA
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
If you think the shiniest thing at the Olympics is a gold medal, you're wrong. From political controversies to diamonds in their thousands, leotards have been a centre of attention in sport, fashion and culture for some time. Lets dive into a few of the most famous outfits worn by gymnasts over the last few decades.
Mary Lou Retten's American dream
This simple yet effective costume was worn by the U.S gymnastics team, most famously Mary Lou Retten, at the 184 Olympics. The leotards were handmade by a Japenese company for the sole purpose of appearing in the games. Retton won the all-around gold while wearing the leotard, which is a long sleeved white piece decorated with the American flag. In 2012, Jordyn Weiber and Aly Reisman (two very successful American gymnasts) paid homage to Retten's original outfit by wearing a version with added sparkle.
Simone Biles's Swarvoski madness
Simone Biles returned to the Olympics in 2024 after taking a mental health break, and she did so in style. Biles stunned the audience with a leotard covered in Swarovski crystals. The piece is one of the most expensive of the U.S teams' to date with over 6,000 crystals embedded into the mesh. The leotard was designed and made by GK Elite Sportswear and has an estimated retail price of £3k. Biles won 4 medals overall in 2024: 3 gold and one silver.
Nadia Comaneci's gold chain
During the 1980 Olympic games, Nadia Comaneci told the judges she was serious about winning by completing her entire routine wearing an elegant gold necklace. This simple touch represented the Olympic gold medal, which the Romanian athlete wound up winning. Infact, she scored a "perfect 10" on the uneven bars, a result which is almost unheard of in gymnastics.
Sarah Voss's proud protest
In 2021, Sarah Voss decided to protest sexualisation in her sport by wearing a full body unitard in place of a traditional short leotard during the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The movement spread to the Olympics, in which the entire German team sported the unitard. The aim was to provide female gymnasts with a larger choice of competitive garments and ensure every athlete is comfortable.
To round off, leotards are more than cheesy trope of gymnastics, they're a symbol of feminine and patriotic expression. As gymnastics reinvents itself, so do the outfits.
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