Why the U.S. Gymnastics Team Looks So Chic This Year

The idea for the jacket’s design was inspired by Nike, Miro tells me over Zoom a couple days ahead of the trials. Not by the brand, she clarifies, but by its namesake. “Nike is the Greek goddess of victory,” she tells me. “So I wanted to really research her and understand her, and lean into the strengths of the gymnasts, and create something that symbolizes all of their greatness.”

While researching, she came across more than a handful of incredible images, but what stood out to her the most was a painting of Nike with her toga flowing in the wind. “It was just so grand and so special. What it meant to me is that with the help of her clothing, she became even more powerful than she already was.”

She wanted to create a garment with that kind of energy for the gymnasts. “They are already so beyond incredible! Their work ethic and their strength and their mental capabilities! Everything that they can do is out of this world.” The clothing, she says, had to help symbolize their greatness.

Miro alongside the final design, which was gifted to the five gymnasts after they made the team last month.

The open seams on the jacket are a classic Miro detail, “That seam is one of my biggest design signatures—I do it across t-shirts, dresses and bottoms.” But it also was a way to mimic the toga flowing in the wind in her reference image.

From top left to bottom right, Sunisa Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Simone Biles, and Jordan Chiles, wearing Miro’s custom jacket.

Miro was particularly suited to the task because she was a competitive gymnast for 10 years. “I know what gymnasts want to wear, what they should be wearing, how they want to look, and how they want to feel at a competition.” She also notes that the women’s Olympic gymnast team—which includes Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera—is known not just for their split jumps and back handsprings but also their genuine sense of personal style.

“I love that there’s interest in these athletes beyond their sport. You are able to see all of their range. They are more than just gymnasts,” she says. “It’s nice to see what types of things they gravitate to and what they like, especially in fashion. I mean, we’re seeing them in leotards all the time, but what do they like to wear outside of the competition? It’s really fun to see their multiple sides.”

Chiles moments after learning she made the team following June’s trials.

Jordan Chiles agrees that fashion plays a big part in what she does. She points out that some of the world’s best athletes right now have incredible style. “Take for example Serena Williams—an icon and a legend. She pushed the limits of what people thought was acceptable to wear for a tennis match. With track and field we have Sha’Carri [Richardson] making fashion statements right now, and do not get me started on A’ja and all the WNBA players,” Chiles explains. “Fashion and sports are perfect together. NBA and NFL walk-ins have been epic over the years, and we want in on it.” When she opened up the box with Miro’s jacket, she could barely contain her excitement. “When I tell you I screamed.”

Tonight, the Olympics officially open in Paris. And while no one can be sure how many medals the women’s gymnastics team will manage to win this year, Miro believes the jacket represent how far they’ve already come. “The jackets are essentially a trophy—it’s what they wore to walk out of the trials after making it.”

The goddess Nike wore a toga and team USA wears a custom Sami Miro jacket—but they’re both just as likely to chase victory.

Tara Gonzalez is the Senior Fashion Editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Previously, she was the style writer at InStyle, founding commerce editor at Glamour, and fashion editor at Coveteur.