Bras in the Olympics

I've looked at this history of the bra before, and most sources seem to back up what's written on that page (about Herminie Cadolle, Mary Phelps Jacob, Ida Rosenthal, et. al) before. However, on another board, someone has said that the bra came about as a result of female athletes in the Olympics in the 1920s complaining of "bruising" (quotation marks his).

I've never heard of the Olympics having anything to do with the history of the bra at all, and can't find anything to back it up online. Is there any truth to it at all?

(looking for a way to phrase this without shifting this thread over to NFBSK)

A well-endowed woman would have problems with "the girls" bouncing around if she were physically active. I'm not well-endowed, and I've had discomfort from this.

However, for this to be true, we need evidence that 1920's female athletes were 1) much larger-chested than modern female athletes and 2) were doing things that would have bounced them around a lot. While I haven't researched the history of women's sports, I don't recall a lot of high-energy, bouncy activities back that far.

[Mickey Blue]

I don't recall a lot of high-energy, bouncy activities back that far.

Well I can think of one.. But a bra usually comes off for it..



-MB

[Singing in the Drizzle]

I my look around I keep Mary Phelps Jacob and her patent recived on November 3, 1914. If this is true then I can not see someone inventing the bra this early in time just for the 1920 Olympics. It also look like thier were not many sports for the women to compete in during the games as well. It was not until the games of 1928 that they were really excepted as part of the Olympics.

[Tantei Kid]

Originally Posted by Singing in the Drizzle

I my look around I keep Mary Phelps Jacob and her patent recived on November 3, 1914. If this is true then I can not see someone inventing the bra this early in time just for the 1920 Olympics. It also look like thier were not many sports for the women to compete in during the games as well. It was not until the games of 1928 that they were really excepted as part of the Olympics.

Er, accepted as part of the Olympics?

[LyndaD]

Originally Posted by Tantei Kid

Er, accepted as part of the Olympics?

I'm sure there were still people who took exception to women participating.

[Sara@home]

I suspect that women of most eras would figure out that binding the breasts would keep them from painfully bouncing while doing strenuous exercise or other things where bouncing is occurs.