Olympics-Gymnastics-US women dazzle in crystal-studded leos

By Chang-Ran Kim and Rory Carroll

PARIS (Reuters) - When Simone Biles steps under the lights of Bercy Arena on Sunday in one of the Paris Olympics' most anticipated events, there will be something for fans of gymnastics and haute couture alike.

Team USA's five women will be donning a collection of hand-crafted, crystal-studded leotards costing thousands of dollars in a display befitting the Games' fashion-conscious host city.

Drawing inspiration from the U.S. Independence Day fireworks and Paris as the City of Lights, the blue-red-and-white leos, designed and made by Pennsylvania-based GK Elite Sportswear, are adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals as well as pearls.

The U.S. women debuted one of the costumes - featuring a blend of 3,423 Brilliance and Turquoise Shimmer Swarovski crystals - at a training session this week.

Samantha Peszek, a U.S. team silver medallist from 2008 turned NBC analyst, said the dazzling leotards were part of the sport's evolution into the fashion world.

"I know one of the French gymnasts had a designer leo made for her and a lot of U.S. athletes, Jordan Chiles in particular, leaned on fashion icons like Beyonce to design their leotards and their nails," she told Reuters.

"There's this artistic fashion component that is just beginning in the world of gymnastics."

High fashion was on full display at the Opening Ceremony extravaganza on Friday evening too, with LVMH dressing Lady Gaga in a Dior Haute Couture black feather jacket and Aya Nakamura, France's most-listened to female singer in the world, performing in a Dior gold feather and silk dress.

NBC's Peszek said that while she thought the gymnasts' leotards seen were eye-catching, she was not sure about their functionality.

"My first thought was if they're heavy because the more rhinestones you have on the leo, the heavier it is," she said.

"I don't know, but they didn't look like they had any problems with it today. It was so beautiful."

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, editing by Ed Osmond)