ABOUT
The leotard is a skintight garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs free. They can be sleeveless, short sleeved or long sleeved and are most commonly worn by gymnasts.
Gymnastics practice leotards are usually sleeveless, while competition leotards are nearly always long sleeved. In addition to being seen as more elegant, long sleeved leotards help to keep muscles warm, which helps to avoid injury.
Freedom of movement is extremely important to gymnasts. Therefore, the tight fit provided by the leotard makes for better aerodynamics and the stretchy fabric allows for the contortion of the body. The earliest leotards were usually made from nylon or cotton, but modern leotards are made from comfortable flexible materials such as Nylon, Lycra, and Spandex. Women's leotards are often designed to be more stylish and may feature a variety of colors and decorative items such as rhinestones and crystals. Click here to learn more about the design elements of the leotard.
Gymnastics practice leotards are usually sleeveless, while competition leotards are nearly always long sleeved. In addition to being seen as more elegant, long sleeved leotards help to keep muscles warm, which helps to avoid injury.
Freedom of movement is extremely important to gymnasts. Therefore, the tight fit provided by the leotard makes for better aerodynamics and the stretchy fabric allows for the contortion of the body. The earliest leotards were usually made from nylon or cotton, but modern leotards are made from comfortable flexible materials such as Nylon, Lycra, and Spandex. Women's leotards are often designed to be more stylish and may feature a variety of colors and decorative items such as rhinestones and crystals. Click here to learn more about the design elements of the leotard.