30 Times Olympic Athletes Absolutely Stunned On The Red Carpet
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While you might picture most Olympic athletes in their uniforms—whether it's sleek snow gear or a patterned leotard—many of your favorite medalists have dazzled on the red carpet.
In the wake of their sporting success, plenty of the Olympics' biggest names have scored invites to glitzy events usually reserved for Hollywood royalty. We're talking everything from movie premieres to the Oscars and the Met Gala—impressive! It's no huge surprise, though, considering some of these athletes, including soccer star Megan Rapinoe and tennis legend Serena Williams, have opened up about their lifelong love for fashion. (It shows, ladies!)
Here are 30 Olympians dressed to the nines on the red carpet, from Simone Biles in a gown that weighs 88 pounds (!!) to Coco Gauff in custom Prada.
Simone Biles, 2021 Met Gala
Simone, widely regarded as one of the best gymnasts of all time, wore custom AREA x Athleta on this first Monday in May. The three-piece ensemble included a Swarovski crystal-embellished skirt that weighed 88 pounds. She told Vogue that she hoped her dress would show people that female athletes can be both "tough" and "beautiful."
Lindsey Vonn, 2024 Laureus Awards
Here, Lindsey posed on the red carpet at what's often dubbed the "Oscars of Sports." After retiring from Olympic competition, the skier told British Vogue that she's gone through a style evolution over the years. "You go through waves of being more reserved, and waves of being a little bit more feminine and hot," she said. "It just depends on where you are in life."
Jordan Chiles, 2024 Las Vegas Party
Jordan proved she can not only nail complex floor routines, but also the art of a casual-but-chic red carpet look with this leather set. (We spy a Kansas City Chiefs hat!) The gymnast, looking to make her second Olympic squad, recently modeled for Nike ahead of the Paris games.
Megan Rapinoe, 2023 TIME Women Of The Year Gala
Megan put her own spin on recent trends, like red flats and exposed underwear, while walking the red carpet at the 2023 gala, where she was one of 12 honorees. In a campaign for Victoria's Secret, the soccer star described her style as "sometimes a hurricane, sometimes plain."
Serena Williams, 2024 Met Gala
Serena is known for her bold looks on the tennis court, so it's not all that surprising that she's been a lifelong fashion lover. According to the The New York Times, Serena not only attended fashion school, but has been sewing since she was just three years old. What can't she do?
Katie Ledecky, 2022 ESPYs
Katie truly made the whole place shimmer in a sparkle-laden look at the ESPYs, where she took home the Female Athlete and U.S. Female Olympian awards. "There are so many heroes, not just in sports, but all around us," the swimmer said in her acceptance speech. "Look to those people as role models and go for the gold."
Laurie Hernandez, 2023 Alzheimer's Association Imagine Benefit
That green velvet gown against that floral background is perfection! Although Laurie is best known for her gymnastics success, she also created a body-positive clothing line for young girls. "To be able to be comfortable with myself and my body feels like a superpower and I want all girls to be able to feel the same," she told Teen Vogue.
Chloe Kim, 2023 Unforgettable Gala
Here, the snowboarder stunned (and matched the carpet!) in a red gown with a plunging neckline. In 2022, Chloe partnered with Roxy to design a line of colorful snowboarding gear. "On the mountains, I love to wear color, because it looks good, you know? Everything’s all white, so you need a pop for contrast," she told Harper's Bazaar.
Nelly Korda, 2024 Met Gala
In 2024, Nelly became the first golfer since Tiger Woods to attend the Met Gala, where she wore a transparent gown adorned with red flower appliqués. Although she looked like a natural at one of fashion's biggest nights, it was actually her first red carpet event. "This is my comfort zone," she told the Golf Channel in reference to her golf attire. "It was really, really neat to step outside of my comfort zone and do something like that."
Aly Raisman, 2022 TIME 100 Gala
Although Aly told WWD that she prefers to wear athleisure over anything else (relatable), she has wowed us with her red carpet style over the years. Here, she chose a one-shoulder gown complete with a bold black-and-white pattern.
Nastia Liukin, 2023 ESPYs
The gymnast-turned-Olympic commentator dazzled in a pink sequin ombré gown. "I love being able to wear a dress with sneakers and then, wear like a Dior dress," Nastia told People. "I go back and forth, I guess, from edgy to girly."
Shaun White, 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party
Shaun nailed the luxe dress code for Oscars night. Since retiring from competitive snowboarding, the athlete has launched Whitespace, a line of snow gear that blends both technical and stylish elements. When he's off the slopes, he told Esquire that his typical look leans toward "luxury-comfort."
Coco Gauff, 2024 TIME Women Of The Year Gala
Coco, pictured here in a custom Prada gown, was dubbed "the tennis world's new fashion 'It Girl'" by The Daily Beast. "I love fashion. I love makeup. I love that type of thing," she told the press at the U.S. Open media day, adding that she wants to find a way to integrate her passion for style into her brand.
Suni Lee, 2021 Met Gala
Suni channeled Olympic gold with this custom two-piece by Sukeina. She told People that the process for choosing her competition leotards surprisingly isn't too far off from daily dressing. "I love being fashionable whether I'm on the beam or hanging out, so it's so fun for me to pick out my leotard for competitions. The same goes for my workout and street style looks."
Carissa Moore, 2024 World Surfing League Awards
The surfer didn't stray too far from her beachy roots, pairing a black jumpsuit with a lei and a classic pair of Converse. In a letter published in Surfer magazine, she refused to let discussions about her surf wear define her career. "I'm hot because I leave stuff to the imagination, and I let my surfing do the talking."
Eileen Gu, 2024 King's Trust Global Gala
Eileen pulls double duty as both a skiing champ and a model. Pictured here in a sculptural green dress, she's become a Fashion Week fixture. "Just like skiing, modeling requires incredible expression and personality," she told Vogue Hong Kong. "The transition between modeling and skiing became a break and a practice for each other that helped me eventually feel more motivated in each area."
Russell Westbrook, 2022 Met Gala
Russell continued to push fashion barriers in a top hat and skirt combo. The NBA star and Olympic medalist told Vogue that he stands by his style. "Yes, there will be good reviews, bad reviews, but doesn't really matter, as long as I feel good about it, I hope it inspires people to wear and be outgoing and outspoken."
Mikaela Shiffrin, 2023 ESPYs
Mikaela, an Alpine skiing pro, wowed in a backless gown on the red carpet. Although she was all glammed up at the awards show, she said her everyday style is considerably more casual. "Adidas Superstars are my daily staple in life," she told GQ Sports. "It's a perfect everything shoe."
Sabrina Ionescu, 2022 Tribeca Film Festival
The WNBA star, who's preparing for the Olympics as a member of Team USA, stepped out on the red carpet at the Unfinished Business movie premiere. In 2023, she partnered with Nike to create a clothing line inspired by her Romanian heritage, and also has a signature sneaker with the brand.
Naomi Osaka, 2021 Met Gala
The tennis champ wowed in a look inspired by her Japanese and Haitian heritage. When it comes to everyday wear, Naomi told Harper's Bazaar that her style is "equal parts sporty, feminine, and unexpected."
Shawn Johnson East, 2023 ESPYs
Shawn debuted her baby bump in a teal gown. In 2022, the now-mom of three told People that her gymnastics past doesn't necessarily inform how she dresses now. "If it resembles a leotard, I'm probably not going to wear it. If anything, I went the other direction from gymnastics," she said.
Sha'Carri Richardson, 2021 Met Gala
Sha'Carri, a sprinter hoping for Olympic glory in 2024 after controversially being disqualified from the 2020 Games, wowed in a red and black combo. "Fashion is so personal and I definitely use it to express myself—it can show how you feel, your mood, your creativity," she said, per Essence.
Adam Rippon, 2018 Academy Awards
After taking home the bronze at the 2018 Olympics, the ice skater turned heads in a leather harness on the Oscars red carpet. He told ESPN that he normally "just goes for it" when it comes to fashion, comparing his style outlook to his approach to figure skating.
Gabby Douglas, 2020 American Rescue Dog Show
Gabby sparkled in a black gown during the Hallmark Channel event. The gymnast, who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, is attempting a comeback for the 2024 Games.
Ali Krieger, 2024 FIFA Football Awards
Ali chose a metallic strapless gown for the red green carpet in London. "Honestly, I'm in my soccer cleats every day, for hours, so it's fun to walk the red carpet and show people that we can wear high fashion," she told Fashionista. "It's fun play for us because we don't get to do that every day."
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 2023 Paris Fashion Week
The champion hurdler was the epitome of chic at a Dior show. "Growing up, I felt like I wanted to be like the other girls who were into fashion and beauty and all of those things, but it didn't seem like those things could combine [with me being an athlete]," she told PopSugar. "But that was just something that was made up in my head, and now, I love being able to bring both of those worlds together."
Alex Morgan, 2023 FIFA Football Awards
The USWNT star popped in a pink set at the awards in Paris. In an interview, Alex described her style as "girly and comfortable."
Trinity Rodman, 2022 ESPYs
Trinity told Boardroom that fashion has always been a big part of her life. "I think it’s the closest way to describe your personality without even saying anything," she said. The soccer star, who is prepping for her first Olympics, also revealed that fashion has been a way to help her connect with her father, basketball player Dennis Rodman.
Michael Phelps, 2023 Harold & Carole Pump Foundation Gala
Michael showed off his man bun, alongside his wife Nicole. The swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all-time, with a whopping 28 medals. Following his retirement after the 2016 Rio Olympics, he became an advocate for mental health for athletes.
Ashlyn Harris, 2024 Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Pre-Party
Ashlyn said that because it was difficult to show individuality while suited up for a soccer game, her off-field style became very important. "What I wear is very thought-out and it always tells some type of story," she told Fashionista. "It really is a part of who I am, how I feel and what I represent."
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