German gymnasts are breaking with convention at the Tokyo Olympics by debuting unitards as they condemn sexualisation of their sport.
Throughout the tournament, the team will be wearing full-length uniforms that cover their legs and most of their body, instead of the sport's customary leotards.
By doing so the athletes are not in defiance of any rules, which allow for a 'one-piece leotard with full-length legs – hip to ankle'.
Elisabeth Seitz, Kim Bui, Pauline Schaefer and Sarah Voss gave a preview of their outfits which they wore in practice on Thursday, in a picture shared to Instagram.
The posting of the image comes just days after Norway's women's beach handball team was fined after the players refused to wear bikini bottoms in a match, instead competing in non-regulation shorts.
German gymnasts (L-R) Elisabeth Seitz, Pauline Schaefer, Kim Bui, and Sarah Voss debuted the team's unitards on Thursday in a picture posted to Ms Schaefer's Instagram (pictured)
'Our podium training went really well. We were able to call up our performance and introduce ourselves to the judges. Fine-tuning will be done again until Sunday and then it will finally start. How do you like our new outfit?' Schaefer wrote on Instagram.
'Nice arena, good podium training, beautiful unitards, and a lot of joy,' Bui also wrote.
The German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) confirmed in April that it's athletes were taking a stand against 'sexualisation in gymnastics', adding that the issue was important in efforts to prevent sexual abuse, the BBC reported at the time.
The DTB's statement came after German athletes - including Voss and Bui - wore unitards at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
'We hope gymnasts uncomfortable in the usual outfits will feel emboldened to follow our example,' Ms Voss said at the time.
Speaking to public broadcaster ZDF, she continued: 'We women all want to feel good in our skin. In the sport of gymnastics it gets harder and harder as you grow out of your child's body.
'As a little girl I didn't see the tight gym outfits as such a big deal. But when puberty began, when my period came, I began feeling increasingly uncomfortable.'
Pictured: Pauline Schaefer of Germany competes in August 2018 wearing the more conventional leotard worn in the sport. By not wearing leotards, the German team are not in defiance of any rules, which allow for a 'one-piece leotard with full-length legs – hip to ankle'
An earlier post by Ms Bui said the German team wanted to ‘encourage all gymnasts around the world to be able to wear this if they want to feel better!
'It should be a gymnast’s choice to wear what’s she (or he) feels comfortable with! Long legs leotards can also look aesthetically pleasing!’
In 2016, the world of gymnastics - particularly in the United Sates - was rocked by sexual abuse accusations against senior figures, including longtime USA Gymnastics (USAG) national team doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar was found guilty and later sentenced to
