An instrument of mass exhibitionism. Whereas runners at the 1908 Olympics were required to wear 鈥渃omplete clothing from the shoulder to the knees,鈥 the need for speed eventually threw modesty to the wind, and running shorts would gradually retreat to the hem of the wearer鈥檚 tighty-whities. Today, elite sprinters have embraced the spandex speed suit, after coaches successfully argued that loose fabric adds wind resistance. But split shorts鈥攚hich, with their loose fit and divided outer seam, offer a wide range of motion鈥攈ave held their place with long-distance fanatics and connoisseurs alike.
A Brief History of Running Shorts
1972:听The Munich听
Mustached U.S. distance runners Frank Shorter and Steve Prefontaine compete in skimpy split shorts, cajoling millions into believing they鈥檒l look just as cool.
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1977:听The Fixx听
Former two-pack-a-day smoker James F. Fixx鈥檚 The Complete Book of Running features his legs in a pair of split shorts on the cover, igniting the American running craze.
1992:听The Secret Service听
Bill Clinton and Al Gore exit a McDonald鈥檚 wearing matching short-shorts, designed to strike fear into the hearts of America鈥檚 enemies.
1992:听The World Record
Carl Lewis is among the last U.S. Olympians to sport shorts before sprinters started wearing speed suits to decrease wind resistance.
2007:听The Tribute听
Nike releases a Prefontaine-era vintage collection; some-one on eBay releases a pair of shorts embroidered with Pre Lives.听
2012:听The Flasher听
Olympian Henrik Ingebrigtsen breaks a Norwegian record鈥攁nd a few crucial crotch seams in his speed suit鈥攄uring the 1,500-meter finals in London, making fans pine for good ol鈥 shorts.