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15 times Olympic athletes ditched their uniforms and showed off their red-carpet style

15 times Olympic athletes ditched their uniforms and showed off their red-carpet style
LifeThelife1 min read
Megan Rapinoe at the "Let's F------ Go" premiere in New York on June 17, 2021.Cindy Ord/Getty Images
  • When not competing for gold medals, Olympic athletes occasionally dress up for red-carpet events.
  • Some have worn standout gowns for Hollywood parties, and others have chosen unique pantsuits.
  • The Summer Olympics are being held this year in Tokyo, Japan, from July 23 until August 8.

In July 2017, Simone Biles attended the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards in a purple minidress.

In July 2017, Simone Biles attended the Nickelodeon Kids
Simone Biles at the Kids' Choice Sports Awards in Los Angeles on July 13, 2017.      Steve Granitz/Getty Images

The gymnast, who has five Olympic medals at the time of writing, wore the bandage-style dress with patent-leather sandals, silver jewelry, and a curled hairstyle.

Swimmer Katie Ledecky hit a red carpet in a velvet gown months later.

Swimmer Katie Ledecky hit a red carpet in a velvet gown months later.
Katie Ledecky at the Breakthrough Prize event in California on December 3, 2017.      C Flanigan/Getty Images

Her deep-blue dress had long sleeves, sheer panels atop each shoulder, and a halter-style neckline covered in crystals. She completed the look with simple jewelry, black pointed flats, and a matching, blue velvet clutch.

Ledecky has six Olympic medals — five gold and one silver — at the time of writing.

Nine-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix rocked neon at the 2019 ESPYS.

Nine-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix rocked neon at the 2019 ESPYS.
Allyson Felix at the ESPYs in Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 2019.      Rich Fury/Getty Images

The sprinter, who has six gold medals and three silver medals at the time of writing, chose a two-piece ensemble for the 2019 event.

Her neon-yellow crop top had off-the-shoulder sleeves, while her high-waisted pants were the same color and almost covered her tan sandals.

Nyjah Huston is making his Olympic debut this year - but he's no stranger to the red carpet.

Nyjah Huston is making his Olympic debut this year - but he
Nyjah Huston at the Kids' Choice Sports Awards in Santa Monica on July 11, 2019.      Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

The skateboarding star attended Nickelodeon's 2019 Kids' Choice Sports Awards in a zebra-print button-up, black pants, and matching sneakers.

Breanna Stewart represented women's basketball on a 2019 red carpet.

Breanna Stewart represented women
Breanna Stewart at a gala red carpet in Inglewood, California, on July 15, 2019.      Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

For the Cedars-Sinai and Sports Spectacular's 34th Annual Gala that year, she wore a plum suit and Nike sneakers. Underneath her jacket, she also wore a white T-shirt that read: "Women ball too."

The athlete has one gold medal at the time of writing.

Serena Williams looked chic in a silk dress at the 2019 "The Game Changers" premiere.

Serena Williams looked chic in a silk dress at the 2019 "The Game Changers" premiere.
Serena Williams at "The Game Changers" premiere in New York on September 9, 2019.      Jim Spellman / Stringer/Getty Images

Her silver gown was strapless with a V-shaped neckline and an ankle-length skirt. The tennis star, who has four Olympic gold medals, also wore yellow pointed pumps and diamond jewelry.

Soccer star Carli Lloyd dazzled in a pink-and-red minidress at the InStyle Awards that year.

Soccer star Carli Lloyd dazzled in a pink-and-red minidress at the InStyle Awards that year.
Carli Lloyd at the InStyle Awards in Los Angeles, California, on October 21, 2019.      Jon Kopaloff/Stringer/Getty Images

The sequin-covered dress had a high neckline, long sleeves that puffed at the shoulders, and a thin cutout in the middle of her chest. The skirt also wrapped at the waist, and the sequins were set in an animal print.

Lloyd, who has two gold medals, completed the look with metallic sandals, a square clutch, and an updo hairstyle.

Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn chose a glamorous pantsuit for a 2019 movie premiere.

Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn chose a glamorous pantsuit for a 2019 movie premiere.
Lindsey Vonn at the "Charlie's Angels" premiere in Los Angeles on November 11, 2019.      Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

The skier wore her yellow double-breasted blazer with no shirt underneath, and her blonde hair in loose waves. Vonn's matching pants also stood out, as they had short slits on the side of each leg that revealed her suede pumps.

Simone Manuel looked stunning at the 2019 Golden Goggle Awards in a sparkling dress.

Simone Manuel looked stunning at the 2019 Golden Goggle Awards in a sparkling dress.
Simone Manuel at the Golden Goggle Awards in Los Angeles on November 24, 2019.      Kevork Djansezian/Stringer/Getty Images

Her silver dress had off-the-shoulder sleeves, as well as a ruched bodice and skirt. Manuel also wore matching silver heels, diamond jewelry, and an updo hairstyle.

The swimmer has two gold and two silver medals at the time of writing.

Swimmer Lilly King made a case for shorts on the red carpet at the same event.

Swimmer Lilly King made a case for shorts on the red carpet at the same event.
Lilly King at the Golden Goggle Awards in Los Angeles on November 24, 2019.      Kevork Djansezian/Stringer/Getty Images

She paired black high-waisted shorts with a white blouse and a black satin blazer.

The two-time gold medalist also wore heeled sandals, a black belt, layered necklaces, and a curly hairstyle to complete the look.

David Boudia looked dapper in a velvet suit at the 2019 The Points Guy Awards.

David Boudia looked dapper in a velvet suit at the 2019 The Points Guy Awards.
David Boudia at The Points Guy Awards in New York City on December 9, 2019.      Mike Pont/Stringer/Getty Images

The Olympic diver paired his blue suit with a white dress shirt that had black buttons. He also accessorized with his gold medal that he won at the 2012 London Olympics.

At the time of writing, Boudia has also won a silver and two bronze medals.

Alix Klineman and April Ross are joining forces for the first time at the 2021 Olympics. But years prior, they posed on red carpets together.

Alix Klineman and April Ross are joining forces for the first time at the 2021 Olympics. But years prior, they posed on red carpets together.
Alix Klineman and April Ross at in Hollywood, California, on December 11, 2019.      Rachel Luna/Stringer/Getty Images

The volleyball stars attended the "Uncut Gems" premiere in 2019 wearing contrasting outfits. Klineman chose a leopard-print slip dress and tan sandals, while Ross opted for a red blouse, a black form-fitting miniskirt, and matching heels.

Ross has one silver and one bronze medal at the time of writing, and Klineman will be making her Olympic debut.

Water polo stars Kami Craig, Ashleigh Johnson, and Maggie Steffens all showed off their style at the 2020 Gold Meets Golden event.

Water polo stars Kami Craig, Ashleigh Johnson, and Maggie Steffens all showed off their style at the 2020 Gold Meets Golden event.
Kami Craig, Ashleigh Johnson, and Maggie Steffens in Los Angeles on January 4, 2020 .      Alberto E. Rodriguez/Stringer/Getty Images

Craig wore a yellow silk slip dress and black sandals for the occasion, while Steffens wore a similar dress in orange with nude pumps. Johnson took a different approach in plaid pants, a black blazer, and a sheer, sparkling shirt.

Steffans, who has two gold medals, and Johnson, who has one, will be competing in Tokyo this year. Craig will not be participating.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is competing in the Olympics for the first time this year, looked pretty in pink at the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is competing in the Olympics for the first time this year, looked pretty in pink at the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the Laureus World Sports Awards on February 17, 2020.      Boris Streubel/Stringer/Getty Images

The track-and-field athlete wore the vibrant, silk wrap dress with silver sandals and layered bracelets. She also wore dangling earrings and an updo hairstyle.

Megan Rapinoe wore a bold printed suit at the "LFG" premiere last month.

Megan Rapinoe wore a bold printed suit at the "LFG" premiere last month.
Megan Rapinoe at the "LFG" premiere in New York on June 17, 2021.      Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Rapinoe, who has one Olympic gold medal, wore a striped vest underneath her printed blazer and matching wide-legged pants. The soccer star also donned leather loafers and her signature purple hair.

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