Why You Don’t See Bra Straps on Women in the Olympics

Yes, judges can give you a deduction for the wrong underwear

If you’ve been watching the Olympics, you may have noticed that there’s one thing you don’t see on female athletes: bra straps. That’s because in gymnastics and perhaps other sports, judges may take a deduction for underwear that shows during a routine.

To limit or avoid slippage, some female athletes use the spray-on adhesive Tuf-Skin, one of a variety of products cheerfully known as “butt glue.” They may also wear bras with clear plastic straps in case the Tuf-Skin fails.

But even the butt glue won’t save you if you’re a female wrestler and wear the wrong bra under your singlet. Underwire bras are forbidden — no doubt because a wire that came loose on the mat could do serious damage to an opponent.