Beach volleyball was officially added to the Olympic Games in 1996. Today, it is one of the most popular sports at the Games.
Team USA athletes like Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, for example, became household names after bringing home multiple medals for beach volleyball.
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Often, what players wear on court generates as much pressure as the game itself – over the years, some have criticized the women’s uniforms which are usually skimpy, but according to the athletes themselves, there are reasons why bikinis are best for play.
First, learn about the origins of beach volleyball uniforms and how they have evolved since then.
A Brief History
Beach volleyball’s seaside origins explain why athletes have worn swimwear-like uniforms, i.e. bikini briefs, for many years.
“Beach volleyball was a sport that was developed in Hawaii and Southern California and the beaches of Rio,” Olympic medalist April Ross told the Associated Press in 2021. “You play, and it’s hot, and then you go and jump in the water.”
A little rain doesn’t stop the game: some beach volleyball athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, for example, faced showers as Paris continued to prepare for the gloomy weather.
“This is just another reason we play in swimsuits,” May-Treanor said after a spill at the 2008 Games.
Uniform Options
Today, female athletes are not required to wear bikini briefs during competition. Two-pieces are still an option for women but one-pieces and short sleeve tops are also allowed. Full length leggings and long sleeve tops are also allowed in cold weather or for religious reasons. Finally, there are two distinct length options for shorts.
Ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, additional uniform options were introduced to encourage more countries to take up the sport. Before that, women wore the typical bikini uniform.
The sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), said this was to accommodate players from different backgrounds. “A lot of these countries have religious and cultural requirements, so the uniform needs to be more flexible,” FIVB spokesman Richard Baker told the Associated Press in 2012.
On the other hand, men wear tank tops and bottoms like board shorts. In many non-Olympic beach volleyball competitions, it is customary for men to go shirtless. They also have long sleeve tops and leggings in case it gets cold.
All players are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses.
Uniform Guidelines
The FIVB mandates specific measurements depending on each uniform. For example, bikini bottoms must have a waistband of no more than 2.8 inches, and men can wear shorts no longer than 3.9 inches above the knee.
The FIVB requires all uniforms to have a “close fit”. As Olympic beach volleyball player Jennifer Kessy explained, there are logistical reasons for this. “Our suits have to fit properly so they don’t move places we don’t want them to move,” she told Today in 2021. “Custom fit is key.”
Women’s briefs “should be cut at an upward angle towards the top of the leg,” and one-pieces must be “close-fitting and designed with an open back and upper chest.”
“Knee-length pants are recommended as a full feature [18.5 inches] and [1.2 inches] above the knee.” Full length pants must be approximately 35 inches in length.
Team members must wear matching uniforms, and logos and text also have size guidelines.
Those who do not comply with the FIVB’s uniform rules are at risk of fines and penalties, possibly including disqualification.
Why some athletes prefer bikinis
Many beach volleyball players say bikinis are optimal for the sport. Two pieces prevent sand from getting caught in the uniform, which distracts from play. According to Kessy, this is why she is not wearing a one piece.
“It restricted and restricted my movements – imagine a diving chest first and depositing more sand than you want to think down the front of your suit. You can’t keep it there and it’s not easy to get out. I found myself adjusting my one piece all the time and while it was definitely embarrassing, it took my focus away from the game I was playing,” she explained to Today.
Still, athletes like Egypt’s Doaa Elghobashy take to playing in more modest uniforms. “I’ve worn the hijab for 10 years,” she told the AP in 2016. “It doesn’t keep me away from the things I love to do, and beach volleyball is one of them.”
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