Jamie Reidy bursts with excitement over female volleyballers’ decision to continue playing in bikinis.
(Note: On March 31st, TresSugar commented on the International Volleyball Federation’s decision to allow female players to wear less skimpy uniforms.)
USA Today reports that top American players see no reason to change.
They won’t be switching from the beach- and TV-friendly bikinis to the more modest uniforms approved recently by the International Volleyball Federation as a nod to countries where more modest attire is preferred.
Full disclosure: pro beach volleyball player Angie Akers (@AngieAkers) is a close friend of mine. I try to keep that in mind when watching her dive around the sand in a bikini. (I also try to keep in mind that her husband is 6′ 5 and 270 pounds.) I would’ve supported Angie and her incredibly athletic colleagues regardless of their uniforms decision. But I am pretty damn psyched they kept things the same. USA! USA! USA!
“It’s something I really feel comfortable with,” said Kerri Walsh, who, with Misty May-Treanor won gold medals in Athens and Beijing while wearing the standard beach volleyball uniform, a two-piece bathing suit. “It’s something I feel empowered by, not distracted with. I’m not a sex symbol; I’m an athlete. I want to be streamlined out there.”
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I want you to be streamlined out there, too, Kerri!
What do you think: bikinis or larger suits?
I am glad that The Women of Pro Beach Volleyball will continue to wear Bikinis. I thought they should all along. Beach Volleyball in my opinion is one of if not the Hottest womens sport. Also I believe the women who play are not only Athletic but Sexy as well. Finally there are alot of Athletic and Sexy Stars of Womens Beach Volleyball like in The US Jen Kessy, April Ross, Jenny Kropp, Angie Akers, Whitney Pavlik, Kelly Schumacher, Brittany Hochevar, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings. Also in Europe Marta Menegatti and Greta Cicolari from Italy and Natalie Cook and… Read more »
It’s silly that they were required to wear skimpy bikinis. I say let them have a choice to be as covered as they want to be.
I think it’s archaic that women tennis players still have to wear skirts, even if they’re really shorts disguised as skirts. Who are we fooling to think that tennis skirts are more modest somehow?
I don’t mind that women wear what they want, but why do the men get to cover themselves up with long baggy shorts and baggy shirts. They don’t even look comfortable to me. Don’t they get hot wearing so much clothing? Male athletes are pretty great to look at, and as a women, I feel that there is a bit of a double standard going on here. I would love to at least see the men go shirtless. Come on! What’s with that?
Do they not? Well, now that seems really unfair to the straight women and gay/bi men who watch beach volleyball.
I’ve read past interviews with many of the top players who said that they prefer the bikini’s because it keeps sand out of their nether regions better than the baggier shorts or tops. They actually fought to have bikini’s allowed for summer olympic games (if I’m remembering that 100% correctly).
When are the men who wear long baggy shorts and shirts going to complain about sand getting into their nether regions? Maybe the sand only seeks out female anatomy. If the men show up in long baggy shorts and shirts, this is going to smack of sexism a little bit. What are the men going to wear this time around?
I will be curious to find out.
Any word on whether women from Islamic countries will have committee-approved streamlined burkas? Modesty, you know.
As long as they have a choice I’m fine with it.
I’ve absolutely no problem with the beach volleyball players wearing bikinis. I just think it was ridiculous that it was a uniform requirement until now.