It is officially the Summer Olympic season in Paris and as fashion and appearance have made a great impact on our world there is something to be said about Team USA’s uniforms on and off the Olympic stage.
Gymnastics Uniforms From GK Elite
GK Elite, the world’s leading brand of gymnastics competition and training apparel, will dress both the men’s and women’s U.S. gymnastics teams on the mat for the second consecutive Olympic Games.
According to a July 10 press release from USA Gymnastics, this year’s collection draws inspiration from classic American patriotism and old Hollywood glamour while also featuring a Parisian high fashion and glittery influence, paying homage to the this year’s host city.
Each leotard, according to the press release, designed, cut and assembled at the Elite Sportswear headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania with thousands of Swarovski crystals, some of which were attached by hand at the production facility.
According to the press release, each of the uniforms were tailored specifically to each of the gymnasts’ comfort and performance.
The collection was expertly designed by GK Elite’s team lead, Jeanne Diaz, who said in an article from Business Insider, that she took inspiration from the Eiffel Tower when creating the uniforms.
In a particular leotard that featured dark blue and silver stars, Diaz said in the same Business Insider article that she included straps that resembled a lace-up corset, saying she was inspired to try and create “boning-style lines” in the uniform.
This year’s uniforms, according to the same Business Insider article, were meant to be a homage to the iconic 1996 women's team — comprised of Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps — with each of this year’s leotard designs representing the evolution and legacy of Team USA gymnastics. Diaz said that she chose to prioritize carrying “a piece of legacy with them.”
GK Elite earned its status as the market leader in gymnastics apparel largely due to the fit and quality of their garments but also because of its partnership with USA Gymnastics and shared support of USAG mental health initiatives for athletes and coaches.
“GK’s support for athletes both on and off the mat makes them a truly holistic partner,” USA Gymnastics COO Lauryn Turner said in a press release. “We are proud to partner with GK Elite to create our National Team leotards and apparel to grow the sport of gymnastics across all ages and disciplines, and we are thrilled to watch American athletes pursue their dreams while wearing GK’s best-in-class apparel.”
Track & Field Uniforms From Nike
This year’s men’s and women’s Olympic track and field kits were designed by Nike, who claimed to have athletes in mind when creating the uniforms, but the internet isn’t buying it.
It all started in April when Citrus Magazine, a running publication, posted a first look at the Nike 2024 Olympic track and field kits in an Instagram post.
Thousands of people, including some athletes, quickly flooded the comments criticizing the women’s kit for being far too skimpy and revealing.
Olympic pole vaulter Katie Moon, former U.S. track and field athlete Lauren Fleshman and professional marathon runner Phily Bowden were among a few athletes to weigh in on the matter.
“Take the old USA kit, and make it ✨less✨” Bowden wrote in the comment section of the post.
Nike defended these uniforms, deferring inquiries to an article written about the uniforms as its official stance.
The article reinforced the brand’s data-driven approach, explaining that 4D motion-capture data and pixel-level-precision engineering was used when creating the uniforms.
The article also continued, explaing that there were nearly 50 unique pieces across men’s and women’s track and field and a dozen competition-specific styles that athletes could choose from.
“Nike designed the Paris 2024 track and field kits to offer athletes a range of silhouettes tailored for various sport disciplines, body types and sizes, prioritizing performance and maximum breathability,” John Hoke, Nike Chief Innovation Officer, said in the article.
One track star, however, is embracing his moment in the spotlight.
The fastest man in the world, Noah Lyles — who ran a 9.79-second finish in the men’s 100-meter dash final Sunday — took home the gold and did so in style.
The Swiss luxury watch brand, Omega, officially became Lyles’ sponsor ahead of the Paris Olympic Games and the speedster did not leave them hanging.
The 27-year-old sprinter sported the Omega Speedmaster watch during his winning race, the same watch that turned heads at the Stade de France in the Olympic semifinals just hours before his photo-finish.
Lyles also sported a bedazzled silver, gold and grey chain-link necklace during the race, but the highlight of the sprinter’s look came from his nails.
Lyles’ red and blue nails, which read “ICON,” underscored Lyles’ confidence in his ability to win his first Olympic gold for the United States.
As the games continue and Lyles prepares to compete in the 200-meter dash, there is sure to be more of Lyles’ fashion in the coming days.
Basketball Uniforms From Nike
Nike was also responsible for this year’s Team USA basketball uniforms.
These uniforms are a timeless classic, pulling inspiration from past years' Olympics, including the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Team USA basketball uniforms.
Each player was given a choice in shoes, with choices including brands like Nike, Skechers and Addias.
Both the men’s and women’s uniforms are a solid iconic color — blue for men’s and red for women’s — of the United States.
Beach Volleyball Uniform From Kenneth Hilliard
This year’s women’s beach volleyball uniforms were a unique creation. The two duos representing Team USA, one made up of Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng of the University of Southern California and the other made up of Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth, who were both former Louisiana State University (LSU) student athletes.
One of the three uniforms worn by the women’s beach volleyball teams was created by designer Kenneth Hilliard, a graphic designer, owner of Hilliard Creative and a fellow LSU alumni.
Hilliard said in an article from Tiger TV — LSU’s student-run news publication — that he was inspired to create a design due to a passion for designing and branding, particularly in the realm of sports.
His dream, according to the Tiger TV article, was to design uniforms for a minor league baseball team, but little did he know that he would be designing for the world’s biggest stage in the world of sports.
Most beach volleyball uniforms are swimwear or adjacent. Hilliard explained in the Tiger TV article that he enjoyed using his creative power and letting patriotism guide his design.
Golf Uniforms From J. Lindeberg
Following two Olympiads of being outfitted by Adidas, this year’s Team USA men’s and women’s golf uniforms were designed by a new sponsor.
According to an article from the PGA Tour, the uniforms were created by Scandinavian brand J. Lindeberg with the intention of inspiring confidence in the athletes while also catching the eyes of everyone watching.
The uniforms, according to the article, will be adorned by all the athletes, caddies, coaches and staff that represent USA Golf this year and at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“For us, it was a dream of a lifetime to be able to be involved with USA Golf and put our product on the best players from the United States,” Scott Davis, the president of J. Lindeberg said in the same PGA Tour article.
“Dressing the USA teams for the Summer Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 will be an honor that underscores our commitment to excellence in golf and sportswear design alike,” Hans-Christian Meyer, the CEO of J. Lindeberg added.
According to the same article from PGA Tour, the uniforms feature geometrical shapes and bright colors, a vibrant tribute to the American flag.
Opening and Closing Ceremony Uniforms From Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren’s latest ceremonial pieces have people drooling.
Designed by David Lauren — the chief branding and innovation officer for the brand — these innovative yet classic Americana pieces, according to an article from CNN, are meant to invoke feelings of culture, sportsmanship and leadership among the athletes that will don them. The collection represents a preppy athletic outfit with inspiration from Paris itself.
The dark blue suit, paired with a blue and white striped shirt and jeans, made for a sophisticatedly sporty opening ceremony outfit, but the white moto jacket closing ceremony outfit — which according to Ralph Lauren’s website is inspired by the brand’s passion for automotive styles — is something athletes can feel professional and confident in.
According to its website, all of the Ralph Lauren Team USA uniforms were crafted in American factories in both Maine and Oregon.
“The opportunity to produce these iconic uniforms fills our team with pride, especially as we watch Team USA with our families and friends, knowing that we had a hand in outfitting our nation’s athletes,” said Ralph Lauren CEO Wei Wang in a statement on Ralph Lauren’s website.
Shop the full 2024 Ralph Lauren Olympic collection at ralphlauren.com/olympics.
Podium Uniforms From Nike
Any Team USA medal-winning athlete will adorn a pure blue, zipped, mock-neck Nike tracksuit with a pair of matching Nike Air Max Dn shoes while standing on the podium.
According to Nike, the outfits are “made with a stretch woven material and a Dri-FIT liner” and feature an “angled, perforated ventilation on the chest” which is a “nod to the classic Nike Windrunner design.”
The Nike Air Max Dn shoes feature air-filled tubes in the soles, which according to Nike, are meant “to provide greater cushioning, while styled for comfort, utility and versatility.”
According to an article from Complex, Nike also created its first breakdancing shoe, the Nike Jam, in honor of breakdancing making its Olympic debut in Paris this year.
