Olympics-Gymnastics-German full-body suits applauded in slow-to-change Japan

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Gymnastics - Artistic - Women's Vault - Qualification - Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo, Japan - July 25, 2021. Kim Bui of Germany, Pauline Schaefer of Germany and Elisabeth Seitz of Germany are seen in their unitards REUTERS/Mike Blake

TOKYO (Reuters) - The full-body suits of Germany's Olympic gymnasts have struck a chord on Japanese social media, with many applauding the freedom of choice in a nation where schoolgirls almost always wear skirts and high heels are still required in some offices.

The German women's gymnastics team competed in red and white unitards, which are combined leotards and leggings extending to the ankles, in qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday after saying they aimed to counter the sexualisation of the sport and women could wear what they choose.