United States Women’s Beach Volleyball Team Sticking With Bikinis at London Games (Photos)

In March, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) approved changes to its standard uniform that would allow women’s beach volleyball players to wear long sleeves and athletic shorts. The changes were made in order to embrace countries that wanted to compete, but had more modest religious or cultural standards.

Well, thankfully the United States is not one of those countries. The American women’s team will continue to wear bikini uniforms, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor have taken the gold medal at the last two Olympics and will be vying for their third in London this summer. But in order to do so, they say they’ll need the increased flexibility that comes with the lighter outfit.

“It’s something I feel empowered by, not distracted with,” Walsh told SI. “I’m not a sex symbol; I’m an athlete. I want to be streamlined out there.”

And streamlined she will be. While Walsh and May-Treanor have commended the FIVB for the open-minded changes, their decision to not fully embrace the changes has left plenty of television audiences happy. Needless to say, the women’s beach volleyball event will be a hit in the ratings this summer.

Click here to see women’s beach volleyball players sporting the bikini uniforms>>>

Click here to see more of the bikini uniform in action at the 2011 Pan-Am Games>>>

Photo via Facebook/Brazil Women’s Beach Volleyball Team