Nike made several promises while inking the deal with USA Gymnastics two years ago. The arrangement requires the brand to supply clothes and shoes to the national gymnastics team and USA Gymnastics. Also, it will support the gymnasts’ journey in the Los Angeles Olympics as it has done in the Paris Olympics. As anticipated, Li Li Leung, the president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, was ecstatic about the promises. She decided to look forward to having a better future coming with the agreement while calling Nike’s support ‘critical.’ However, talking about the future, in 2025, there was something on the calendar. 

This year, they selected Nike Swoosh to decorate the USA Gymnastics leotards for international tournaments and national camps. Thankfully, the project’s moving forward, and new designs for men’s and women’s gymnastics leotards came into the limelight. But have the designs been well accepted by the fans? Or how do they look now? The responses are not quite in the place, though. 

The brand-new leotards make it into the public 

Last week, Team USA tasted major success at the 2025 FIG Baku World Cup in Azerbaijan. The US pair of Alexandra Mytnik and Trevor Harder remained one such with a big tagline. The pair won the first US World Cup title in the inaugural mixed synchronized trampoline session.

Apart from them, two more medals entered Team USA’s kitty bag. But that’s not the news here. On February 26, USA Gymnastics’ Instagram handle shared a carousel revealing the first Nike leos gymnasts wore in the 2025 Baku World Cup. Gymnasts from Team USA, both male and female, showcased new gymnastic wear. But was there something special? 

The tank top worn by men and the long sleeves for the women gymnasts may have gained the highlight. Previously, in other appearances, such innovations had not been present. But the entry of Swoosh made it possible.

However, the long sleeves remained one of the styles. There are other modifications as well. The shifting of the USA logo and placing of the Nike logo in the leotard have been noteworthy. But don’t consider it a common modification applied to other clothing as well. There have been a few more as well.

Altogether, Nike has tried to rotate the designs. However, the gymnastics fans are not ready to take things that lightly. On Reddit, several comments came around. Let’s follow up. 

The gymnastics fans compare the brands 

“The red long sleeve leo is just okay. Not a fan of the belt or straight neckline. It’s inoffensive at the end of the day,” someone put on Reddit. The introduction of long-sleeved Leo may not be the first time here. But, Nike has normalized it. Last year, in the US Gymnastics Championships, GK Elite did something revolutionary. Its customized leo for Jordan Chiles took serious inspiration from Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour.

And voila! The leotard added pop culture to the championship. Notably, GK Elite’s leotard had full sleeves. Someone noted this similarity, and that fan’s comment claimed that he/she didn’t like it.

That fan’s comment read, “I don’t like any of them. I was hopeful for a more athletic look with Nike (ala the old Adidas leos), but these just look like worse rip-offs of GK?” The fan desired Nike’s classic flavor combined with the new design. Something evident in track and field! But emulating GK Elite disappointed the fans. Meanwhile, someone brought up the introduction of belts in the leotards of women gymnasts. 

The concerned comment read, “The quasi belts on the red style look quite weird; I’m not keen on them.” Using a belt over the leotard hasn’t been a common sight. The Renaissance-inspired leotard didn’t even have that. But in the new modifications, Nike has normalized it. But the women’s leotard wasn’t the only matter to come under flak. The men’s tank tops faced the heat. 

On that aspect, the gymnastics fan wrote, “Ok on second thought, I think those less revealing men’s leos are actually tank tops. I can see where they are bunching up on some of the gymnasts. And some of them chose to wear the tanks over their shorts, while others tucked them into their shorts.”

The comment shows the fans didn’t find the dresses interesting or innovative. Someone mirrored the exact emotions, penning, “Not a fan of these at all really.”

However, Nike has yet to respond to the situation. But the negative emotions are coming in bulk.