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Drawing inspiration from the U.S. Independence
Day fireworks and Paris as the City of Lights, the
blue-red-and-white leos, designed and made by Pennsylvania-based
GK Elite Sportswear, are adorned with thousands of Swarovski
crystals as well as pearls.
The U.S. women debuted one of the costumes - featuring a blend
of 3,423 Brilliance and Turquoise Shimmer Swarovski crystals -
at a training session this week.
Samantha Peszek, a U.S. team silver medallist from 2008 turned
NBC analyst, said the dazzling leotards were part of the sport's
evolution into the fashion world.
"I know one of the French gymnasts had a designer leo made for
her and a lot of U.S. athletes, Jordan Chiles in particular,
leaned on fashion icons like Beyonce to design their leotards
and their nails," she told Reuters.
"There's this artistic fashion component that is just beginning
in the world of gymnastics."
High fashion was on full display at the Opening Ceremony
extravaganza on Friday evening too, with LVMH dressing Lady Gaga
in a Dior Haute Couture black feather jacket and Aya Nakamura,
France's most-listened to female singer in the world, performing
in a Dior gold feather and silk dress.
NBC's Peszek said that while she thought the gymnasts' leotards
seen were eye-catching, she was not sure about their
functionality.
"My first thought was if they're heavy because the more
rhinestones you have on the leo, the heavier it is," she said.
"I don't know, but they didn't look like they had any problems
with it today. It was so beautiful."
(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, editing by Ed Osmond) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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