Team member and three-time Olympian Elisabeth Seitz put it very simply.
“We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear,” she said.
Traditional leotards are notoriously uncomfortable, especially during routines, where they tend to slip constantly.
“We were used to being in just a leotard on beam, and some girls said they wanted to feel more comfortable in training,” fellow team member, Sarah Voss added.
The political statement comes at an important time in the women’s gymnastics industry.
It was only a few short years ago when Larry Nassar, the former doctor for the Unites States team was found guilty of sexually assaulting at least 265 identified victims over a 20 year period, including Olympic World Champion, Simone Biles. The news sent shockwaves around the world.
What's more, accusations of abuse have also run rife across Britain and Greece for years.
Join Tom Tilley with regular rotating co-hosts Jan Fran, Annika Smethurst and Jamila Rizvi on The Briefing, Monday - Saturday, for the day's headlines and breaking news as well as hot topics and interviews. Available on Listnr.