The U.S. Gymnasts Have Already Set an Olympic Record: For Crystals

In 2016, shortly before Simone Biles took home five medals at the Rio Olympics while wearing leotards bestrewed with approximately 5,000 crystals, GK Elite, the company behind the leos, announced that it had hit “peak crystal.” GK could not, a spokeswoman said, get any more sparklers on a quarter-yard of fabric.

When it comes to crystals on leotards, however, as when it comes to most Olympian feats, records are made to be broken.

In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, the American gymnasts wore leotards with 6,400 crystals. During the competition this year, they will level up yet again by modeling some looks with more than 10,000 crystals.

“The more crystals, the more impact, the more the leotards are talked about,” said Jeanne Diaz, the design director of GK Elite. And not just the leotards but the gymnasts wearing them. Effective use of crystals “can accentuate the routine of the gymnasts, their line,” she said.

“I am obsessed with how the lights of the arena reflect off the crystals,” said Sunisa Lee, the Tokyo Olympic all-around gold medalist and a current national team member. “I am always telling GK I need more.”

Over the last few Olympic cycles, the American team has become known not only for its skills, but for its use of crystals. It has become the team’s signature. “Everybody looks to Team U.S.A. and says, ‘I want to look like that — I want to sparkle like that,’” said Matt Cowan, the chief executive of GK Elite. He would know, since GK also designs the leotards for nine other delegations, including Canada, Australia and Mexico.