The U.S. national team’s new training leotards are here, and I have to say, I’m in love.
In August 2023, USA Gymnastics partnered with Nike. Now, Nike has begun to sponsor the training leotards as well, with plans to also sponsor the competition leotards soon.
The national team leotards from Nike have a clean, sporty design that I love. The collection includes solid royal blue, fire engine red and black leotards, plus a navy blue design with bold purple and blue stripes. There’s also a grey leotard with thick black straps and Nike swooshes, reminiscent of the popular Nike Pro shorts. In fact, the most elaborate design is a simple lilac halter with a black bottom and rhinestones at the belt. My only critique is that the material seems slightly too thin on some of the lighter colors. I’ve written previously about how leotards must prioritize functionality, and it’s great that top gymnasts are wearing designs that reflect that.
The minimalist designs are bold, and while some may call them boring, I’m all for it. Like all fashion trends, leotard trends come in cycles, and I think we're nearing the end of the crystal craze. I believe that soon, more sporty designs will be in vogue. When no one has sparkles, you stand out by having them, but when everyone has sparkles, you stand out by not having them. The national team’s training leotards have always had a simple, sporty look, but these Nike designs go even further. By the 2028 L.A. Olympics, I predict a return to bold, geometric ’80s styles. Sparkles won’t disappear, but minimalist designs will take the lead. Take a look at the Vogue-designed leotard worn by Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos of France in early 2024 to see what’s to come. You can see another glimpse of the style that may arrive in the future by looking at the infamous “twisties” leotard from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team competition, which was a modern reworking of one of the national team leotards from 1984.
Nike isn’t the first major sporting brand to be the clothing sponsor for USA Gymnastics. In 2013, Under Armour became the sponsor in an agreement that was supposed to last through 2020, but was terminated early because of the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal. Before that, Adidas was the national team sponsor from 2000–12, during the height of the Karolyis. I think the current trend of crystal-heavy leotards likely stems from a few factors. First, I believe both gymnasts and sports companies want to stylistically differentiate themselves from previous eras that are full of bad memories. I think that’s one reason high collars have become so popular in recent years — before 2018, you mostly only saw Chinese and Eastern Bloc gymnasts wearing them, but now almost every USA leotard has a high collar. New fashion subtly differentiates a new era of American gymnastics. Additionally, from the companies’ perspectives, it’s a simple equation that more crystals equals more buzz. The Paris Olympics leotards saw up to 10,000 crystals and generated significant media attention for this fact, even being displayed in Swarovski’s Fifth Avenue store.
Still, I believe leotards are heading toward a more sporty, retro style in the next few years. It's important to remember that while the leotard highlights the gymnast, it’s ultimately the athlete’s skill that captivates the crowd — not their outfit. Just look at Nadia Comaneci, who captivated the world wearing only a simple white leotard with thin stripes when she scored perfect tens in 1976. It’ll be interesting to see what competition designs Nike introduces next.
