Kerri Walsh (top) and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. compete during the Beijing Olympics. (MCT)
Fear not, fans of beach volleyball ― or of the women who play it.
Top players say 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.
“It’s something I really feel comfortable with,” said Kerri Walsh, who with Misty May-Treanor won the gold medal 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.”
Bikinis are a natural for a sand-based sport, and they’ve been the standard Olympic uniform since beach volleyball became an official event at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Players say they prefer the beachwear because it allows them freer movement, and the minimum of material leaves less room for sand to get into their clothing and cause chafing.
It doesn’t hurt the TV audiences, either, as television producers zoom in for close-ups of the women signaling to each other by holding up their fingers against their behinds.
But under new rules adopted by the International Volleyball Federation, players are now free to wear shorts and sleeved tops. The governing body said the move was made out of respect for the cultural beliefs of some of the countries still in contention to qualify for the games.
Walsh said she’ll stick to the bikini. Still, she applauded the change. “I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “I don’t want anything as trivial as a uniform to keep anyone from chasing their dreams.”
The new rule will allow women to wear shorts that stop a little more than an inch above the knee, along with a sleeved or sleeveless top ― similar to the uniforms for indoor volleyball players. (AP)