Team USA’s Olympic Gymnastics Uniforms Through the Years: From 1936 to Present Day

Showing their pride! Since women’s gymnastics was first introduced to the Summer Olympics at the 1936 Berlin Games, the athletes’ uniforms have become intertwined with the sport. 

[ami-related id="2059661" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/tokyo-olympics-2020-in-2021-everything-to-know/" title="Everything to Know About the Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where to Watch and More" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Jordan-Burroughs-Team-USA-Competing-at-Tokyo-Olympics-2020.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1585975" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off and the women’s competition in gear, it only felt appropriate to take a look back at the leotards through the years. 

For this year’s competition, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Jade Carey and MyKayla Skinner represented the United States in style! 

The official uniforms, which made their grand debut on the mat, are designed by GK Elite Sportswear and are blinged out in a lot (we repeat: a lot) of Swarovski crystals. 

"The first thing you should know about this competition leotard is that it's made of completely recycled fabric in a nod to Tokyo's focus on sustainability, especially for this competition year," GK Elite Sportswear wrote via Instagram on Sunday, July 25. "We didn't stop there though, over 76 stars are either sewn or glued to this leotard in tribute to America's founding year: 1776. In total, this competition leotard uses over 6,400 @swarovski crystals in Brilliance, Clear, and Metallic Gold in a variety of sizes and shapes. The replica version of the gorgeous National Team competition leotard is now available at gkelite.com! #gkelite #youareachampion #youaregk #AsSeenInTokyo [ami-related id="1954555" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/tokyo-olympics-2021-team-usa-athletes-to-watch-out-for/" title="Tokyo Olympics 2021: Team USA Athletes to Watch Out For" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Toyko-Olympic-Athletes-to-Watch-Out-For.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1954523" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

While this year's uniforms have their fair share of sparkle, that wasn’t always the case. Rewind the clock to the beginning and the leotards took a much more low-key approach. 

From long sleeve black bodysuits and spandex options, the looks were practical and relatively simple. As time went on however, the uniforms became much more spirited.

[ami-related id="1777" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/olympic-athletes-where-are-they-now-2013104/" title="Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Four-way-split.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1492324" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

In 1984 for example, at the Los Angeles Olympics, Mary Lou Retton, who was the first American to win a gold medal in gymnastics with her individual all-around score, wore a flag design on her uniform. 

Red, white and blue themes remained for years, with athletes like Shaun Johnson, Dominique Dawes and Brandy Johnson wearing slightly different, yet equally patriotic variations. 

[jwplayer 03x7zW3h]

When the 2012 London Olympics rolled around, the team switched up their style. Gabby Douglas, who was part of the Fierce Five, wore an iridescent silver leotard that was seriously shiny. 

The outfits at the 2016 Rio Olympics were all about glitz. Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Biles and Douglas had bodysuits with more than 5,000 crystals. 

To talk a look back at Team USA’s Olympic uniforms through the years and in celebration of the Tokyo Olympics, keep scrolling. 

[podcast_block]

Showing their pride! Since women’s gymnastics was first introduced to the Summer Olympics at the 1936 Berlin Games, the athletes’ uniforms have become intertwined with the sport. 

[ami-related id="2059661" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/tokyo-olympics-2020-in-2021-everything-to-know/" title="Everything to Know About the Tokyo Olympics 2020: Where to Watch and More" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Jordan-Burroughs-Team-USA-Competing-at-Tokyo-Olympics-2020.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1585975" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off and the women’s competition in gear, it only felt appropriate to take a look back at the leotards through the years. 

For this year’s competition, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Jade Carey and MyKayla Skinner represented the United States in style! 

The official uniforms, which made their grand debut on the mat, are designed by GK Elite Sportswear and are blinged out in a lot (we repeat: a lot) of Swarovski crystals. 

"The first thing you should know about this competition leotard is that it's made of completely recycled fabric in a nod to Tokyo's focus on sustainability, especially for this competition year," GK Elite Sportswear wrote via Instagram on Sunday, July 25. "We didn't stop there though, over 76 stars are either sewn or glued to this leotard in tribute to America's founding year: 1776. In total, this competition leotard uses over 6,400 @swarovski crystals in Brilliance, Clear, and Metallic Gold in a variety of sizes and shapes. The replica version of the gorgeous National Team competition leotard is now available at gkelite.com! #gkelite #youareachampion #youaregk #AsSeenInTokyo [ami-related id="1954555" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/tokyo-olympics-2021-team-usa-athletes-to-watch-out-for/" title="Tokyo Olympics 2021: Team USA Athletes to Watch Out For" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Toyko-Olympic-Athletes-to-Watch-Out-For.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1954523" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

While this year's uniforms have their fair share of sparkle, that wasn’t always the case. Rewind the clock to the beginning and the leotards took a much more low-key approach. 

From long sleeve black bodysuits and spandex options, the looks were practical and relatively simple. As time went on however, the uniforms became much more spirited.

[ami-related id="1777" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/olympic-athletes-where-are-they-now-2013104/" title="Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Four-way-split.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1492324" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"]

In 1984 for example, at the Los Angeles Olympics, Mary Lou Retton, who was the first American to win a gold medal in gymnastics with her individual all-around score, wore a flag design on her uniform. 

Red, white and blue themes remained for years, with athletes like Shaun Johnson, Dominique Dawes and Brandy Johnson wearing slightly different, yet equally patriotic variations. 

[jwplayer 03x7zW3h]

When the 2012 London Olympics rolled around, the team switched up their style. Gabby Douglas, who was part of the Fierce Five, wore an iridescent silver leotard that was seriously shiny. 

The outfits at the 2016 Rio Olympics were all about glitz. Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Biles and Douglas had bodysuits with more than 5,000 crystals. 

To talk a look back at Team USA’s Olympic uniforms through the years and in celebration of the Tokyo Olympics, keep scrolling. 

[podcast_block]

Consetta Caruccio, who competed in two consecutive Olympic Games, tackled the pommel horse in a sleeveless romper and headband.

Marian Barone, who helped her team take home the USA Women's Gymnastics Team's first medal — a bronze — that year, tested her skills on the balance beam in a collared shirt and hot pants with a patriotic diagonal stripe down the front.

Ruth Topalian posed on the balance beam in a long-sleeve romper.

The women of Team USA, who nabbed ninth place that year, posed in multicolored Spandex leotards.

Muriel Davis gracefully moved on the tumbling floor in a stretchy, long-sleeve bodysuit.

Cathy Rigby, who is credited with popularizing gymnastics in the United States, balanced on the beam in a long-sleeve leotard with ruched detailing.

At her second Games, Rigby, who later famously played Peter Pan on Broadway, showed off her beam routine again, this time in a black long-sleeve bodysuit with white piping.

Debra Wilcox stuck her landing on the balance beam in a navy leotard with a red V detail.

Retton, who became the first American woman to win a gold medal in gymnastics with her individual all-around score, wore the first-ever flag design on her uniform.

Brandy Johnson did the splits in midair in a white leotard emblazoned with "USA."

Dawes, who was the first African American to win an Olympic individual gymnastics medal, struck a pose in a white leotard with an abstract flag detail on the sleeve.

Back again four years later, “Awesome Dawesome," part of the gold-medal-winning Magnificent Seven, performed on the beam wearing a white and red leotard embellished with blue stars.

Dawes, at her third and final Olympic Games, posed in midair wearing a red leotard with a winged detail.

Team USA, pictured with their silver team medal, donned white leotards with a blue sashlike stripe.

Team USA, including Johnson and Nastia Liukin, showed off their silver medals in bright red, metallic bodysuits with white stripes.

Douglas, part of the Fierce Five USA Olympic team that took gold, flung from one uneven bar to the next wearing an iridescent long-sleeve leotard.

The Final Five — Raisman, Biles, Douglas, Hernandez and Kocian — posed after winning gold in the all-around team finals in bodysuits embellished with more than 5,000 crystals.

Team USA’s leotards had both a sparkly and sustainable spin. Made by GK Elite, the bodysuit is constructed out of completely recycled fabric. 

“Over 76 stars are either sewn or glued to this leotard in tribute to America’s founding year: 1776,” the brand wrote via Instagram. In total, this competition leotard uses over 6,400 @swarovski crystals in Brilliance, Clear and Metallic Gold in a variety of sizes and shapes.”