Bowling Green State Gymnastics 2011-2012

Understandable CK

And obviously me saying my opinion with my name may hurt me in the future with the one comment/opinion of the BGSU girls, but hopefully it doesn't.
I have strong opinions about certain subjects and didn't go in depth like you did or formerD1girl and I still agree with both of what you said.
Take care!

ok, understood dom, I just didn't agree with your telling me off about the anonymous coward title (or anyone for that matter- again due to the reasoning that using the name dom didn't tell anything more about you than AC), I apologize if my wording was a bit strong but it's how it seemed.

Anyway, I choose not to put my last name on here (I go by CK, everyone calls me that), as I just would like employers to know as little as possible about me before they meet me. Not that I'm embarrassed or anything about expressing my opinion, because I'm not, but the world of employment is a very political one & if they happen to disagree with me I wouldn't want that to get in my way of making a connection. Hope you understand. Anyway, (when I remember- because sometimes I forget to fill in the name section) I use CK consistently because I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on here who uses it, so people can pretty much associate any comments from CK as being from me (unless there's another CK out there, but I don't really care all that much). Hope that's fair.
Glad we got it sorted out. Also, in that particular comment of mine, only the first paragraph was directed at you, the rest was directed at other comments.

Wow. What a barrage of comments below- quite a few strong opinions.
A few points I would like to make...
-I DO know how stressful college + gymnastics is because I did it.
-I DO know that you can get wrapped around the bar or tangled in your coach with your leotard like that because it's happened to me.
-I do LOVE the gymnastics demonstrated in this video.
-I DO feel distracted by the half leo look...we are humans in a hypersexualized culture that are TRAINED to look for flesh.
-I DO believe that these athletes are representing their institutions and as such are held to a higher standard.
-I DO believe their coach can choose to have them look however they would like, but I do also believe that we can verbalize our dissatisfaction with their sloppy appearance.
-I DO agree that these woman are over 18 and thus can make their own opinions, but that does not mean we can't disciple them into better behaviors/appearance.
**I would advice ANY coaches out there, and any athletes for that matter, to look at the responses below me. Please realize that you might "not care" what other people think or how you wear your leo matters....but clearly it does. Wouldn't you rather have people comment on the improvement your team has made or the beautiful technique you have worked hard to perfect....instead of whether or not having a leotard pulled up prevents your belly ring from being pulled out? **
Ladies...you are BETTER than this. You are representing yourselves and your institution 24 hours a day....

Everyone who think this is tacky or sloppy....cool. Keep your opinions to yourself, none of you know this team and comparing them to other schools is a joke they don't attend the other school. There are different situations and different teams this is how these girls practice and thats what it is, if it is like my school they wear it like that to cover belly button rings in order to be safe and a leo half down is NOT a safety hazard, i have never seen it wrap around a bar or injure a girl in any way. these girls are great athletes and what they wear has no impact on the skills they perform. If some of you would just stop judging and actually look at why the video was put up you wouldn't notice the petty things you all seem to see that you feel the need to comment. More power to you girls !!!! your great athletes enough said .

Im not trying to change anyones mind your entitled to your own opinion but if its negative keep it to yourself. You all know how stressful college is the last thing these girl need it someone bringing them down for something that doesn't matter at all to what they are there for. If the school had a problem with how they are represented they would bring the issue up to the girls so until then let the poor girls be . They were there doing what they were supposed to be so instead why not try a little support. ROLL ALONG !!! BGSU

Did you know that I coach 18 amazing athletes at BGSU. They work so hard and they really want to be great. They are a fun group filled with all sorts of personalities and they are an absolute gift in my life. It's amazing what happens when you focus on the positives and appreciate the time and effort it takes to be a collegiate gymnast. When I see them training it is clear to me that they support each other, they work hard and it's what's in your soul, not in what you wear that matters most. Thanks Danny and gymnastike for letting our amazing team get recognized for making progress.

I honestly didn't even notice or care about what they were wearing. I just noticed their gymnastics which looks pretty good. Their in college and their doing this for fun so I really don't think its that big of a deal. People go running on the street or workout in a fitness facility all the time in their sports bra. It's really not that big of a deal; none of them are underage.

I'm not hiding behind anonymous coward...I don't have an account. There is no difference between putting in your name & being listed as anonymous coward. I have no way of knowing who you are just by saying you are "Dom"...you easily could have just made that up. You could be anybody. I just forgot to put in my name. Get off your high horse.

Anyway, in response to what others have said, a few observations:
1: while no, they are not necessarily making a "fashion statement" per se, it would appear that this is trendy amongst their team, & I doubt half of them would be doing it if they didn't see others doing it.
2: there were some belly buttons I saw that didn't have rings. Invalidated argument.
3: "maybe they got hot...and took it down" they are wearing their leos that way for the entire workout with the exception of warmups (when they are in warmup clothes) so it would appear in this situation that it is a strange trend amongst their team.
4: wearing their leos so that part of it is loose IS a safety hazard. I've definitely seen someone training that way do a free hip, get the loose arm hole on one side caught in a hand & slip off the bar on the way up to handstand.
5: even if they weren't being put on the internet, they are still representing their institutions. I'm sure the gym isn't locked, & that occasionally people come in during workouts for whatever reason. Gymnastics is a very subjective sport, opinion matters.
6: I was a high level gymnast & worked out in some stifling heat. I never found the need to pull down my leo (plus it would have just made it worse, as all that bunched up area would have been way hotter than the tiny layer of fabric on my torso). it's not like they are wearing long sleeves.
7: there is just no point to it. Period. & I totally agree with what was said two comments below. You would never see Georgia, UCLA, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, etc., looking that sloppy. They know what it is to have pride in their schools & represent themselves well. Obviously these girls don't, & maybe by having more of a winner's mentality by living out their school pride everyday, not just in competitions, & acting like the ambassadors that they are, they'd do even better. & they owe it to their schools especially since in many cases they are getting paid to be on the team.
Again, I'm allowed to say what I want, & I think it looks sloppy & unprofessional. No one is going to change my mind about that.

The Gymnastics is good however I understand the view of the leo/spotsbra look.
it just portrays a team that is un organized or sloppy. Now that could be the furthest thing from the truth but thats what some people might see. Its just hard for me to believe that Alabama, Florida,UCLA, or even Kent State would let their athletes represent their schools looking like that.

while it's an accurate view, I still think it looks really stupid & unprofessional, & I'm entitled to my opinion.

I think the key statement here is "These women are representing their institutions"
while they can do what they want at workout-if you are putting a video out for all to see-have some pride in your school and dress appropriate-if I was a parent I would be ???? the school that would allow these gymnasts to represent the school in this manner. They look half dressed (which they are) pick one look or the other.

Dear Anonymous Coward,

These girls are all obviously extremely talented and have worked very hard to get to the level they are currently at. It doesn't matter if they want to practice in leotards, sports bras or baggy sweatpants, the gymnastics they are doing is great...end of story. Focus on that and not their clothes. If the girls in the video were at an actual meet they would obviously be matching in their school's apparel but this is just a practice so what does it matter? You don't know the reasoning behind practicing this way. They could have gotten hot with all the high level gymnastics they are doing and wanted to take it down. Or maybe they simply enjoy working out in a sports bra but have to cover up their belly button rings. You don't know these girls so shut the hell up and leave them alone. I think the video is phenomenal and these girls are looking great. I wish them all the best.
SIncerely,
Anonymous :)

Haha, I never really understood why people would get so very much upset over the sports bar, rolled down leo, and shorts look. I mean fine, if it offends you and you think it's somehow inappropriate then alright. But seriously, complaining because you think it looks sloppy and unorganized? Saying that you wouldn't care if they wore just their sports bra and shorts, but that rolled down leo just really offends you and looks "stupid". Give me a break. This site is about gymnastics. This is a great team filled with great talent. Please, just enjoy the video for this reason. I don't care if you want to express your negative opinions and critiques related to gymnastics, but seriously I've seen people complain about the silliest things on this site. Open your mind just a little bit and enjoy the beautiful gymnastics that this video displays.

I don't think there's anything tacky about just wearing a sports bra, especially as the ones that they would wear are a lot like the ones that athletes in sports such as track compete in, but they all just look stupid wearing their leos like that.

pull your freakin leo up. looks sloppy...if you're gonna wear a sports bra go all out and wear just a bra and shorts, not bra, leo folded down, and shorts.