Part of the context for female gymnasts, especially when you are talking about floor exercises, is other somewhat similar activities such as rythmic gymnastics

Part of the context for female gymnasts, especially when you are talking about floor exercises, is other somewhat similar activities such as rythmic gymnastics and even things like ballet. So that is one area where two different worlds are meeting somewhat. To me even more interesting is that these things can be traced back their origins relatively recently and were specific inventions. It's not as if you have thousands of years of these specific movements being done in this way. It something that was created not too many generations back. And its interesting also because the specific format has become so official and accepted as a given. But also fascinating is the way that these things track (or lag behind) changing values etc. What's really interesting to me is the circumstances that allow for new traditions to be invented and become officially sanctioned. I mean, why are they _officially_ all wearing leotards? Call me crazy, but maybe it's literally because your great uncle Bob or whoever who had some oversight at the time thought it was hotter.