{Olympic Leos to Long For}

The current fashion in gymnastics is to wear leotards that look like they've been bedazzled by twelve-year olds at a sleepover, so naturally it's hard to believe that chic, tasteful leos did exist once.  Here are some of the ones I'll be pining for as I see the U.S. girls (and their international cohorts) compete in heavily-sequined holographic monstrosities.

1. Vera Cavlaska, Master of Mod, representing Czechoslovakia; Mexico City Olympic Games, 1968. 

She not only had superb fashion sense, but she also won the all-around and earned five other medals.  She made her historic and political mark for openly protesting the Soviet invasion of her home country by turning her head to the right and looking down each time the Soviet anthem was played when she was on the medal stands. 

Oh how I adore her hair

 

Can we hoist Gabby Douglas in the air like this if she wins?

2. Nadia, Queen of Gymnastics, Queen of the Bangs, representing Romania; 1976 Montreal Olympic Games

We all love Nadia. First perfect 10, yes, we know.  But her style at these olympics is class-y.  These were simpler times in Leo Land, when white with the three colors of the flag down the side and up the sleeve sufficed.  Less is definitely more, and Nadia knew it.  

3. Tatiana Groshkova, representing the Soviet Union, never an Olympian  

I had to include Tatiana Groshkova, even though it's technically cheating since this post is about Olympic leos, and she was never in an Olympic games, nor did she ever win in the Worlds.  I love the flowers, the ribbons, the v-neck...and her ability to pull off white.  She had some of the most difficult skills in the world but struggled with consistency.  I get that, Tatiana.  No worries, you still out-style them all.

4. Svetlana Boginskaya, Soviet Union, 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games

The Belarusian Swan can do no wrong in leo fashion.  She's pure poetry.  The bangs are a mess, but she doesn't care, so we don't either.

5. Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, representing the Ukraine

Lilia, we respect, not just for her toe point and acrobatic versatility, but also for her jewel-toned velvet leotards, and the moderation these leotards showed in the sequin department.  Thank you, Lilia, for your restraint.