How Today's Gymnastics Leotard Evolved

Fabric technology has been the single greatest factor in the evolution of today's modern gymnastics leotard.

The fabrics of the 70's and 80's simply didn't have the same elasticity as today's high-tech fabrics.

In fact, "if you laid an older leotard next to a newer leotard, it's like night and day," says Kelly McKeown executive vice-president of design and corporate relations at GK Elite.

"The leg line is higher, which [gives] the girls a longer line," she explains.

This higher leg cut creates the optical illusion that gymnasts have longer legs than they really do.