# What/why tape showing on some women gymnasts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-why-tape-showing-on-some-women-gymnasts/762873>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 15, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-why-tape-showing-on-some-women-gymnasts/762873 "2016-08-15T03:28:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-why-tape-showing-on-some-women-gymnasts/762873/1 "2016-08-15T03:28:20Z")

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Some of the women gymnasts had various lengths of flesh-colored tape (2-3" wide) sticking out from under their uniforms and going down their legs. I didn’t see any on the U.S. team. What kind of tape is this, and what is its purpose?

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**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-why-tape-showing-on-some-women-gymnasts/762873/2 "2016-08-15T03:37:45Z")

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[Athletic taping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_taping)

Value is debatable.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-why-tape-showing-on-some-women-gymnasts/762873/3 "2016-08-15T03:39:23Z")

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[Elastic therapeutic tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_therapeutic_tape)  
Kinesio seems to be the current popular brand.