Australia's 2016 Olympics uniform goes full on private school preppy

Can you believe it's been four years since we last argued over the Australian Olympic team's uniform?
 By 
Johnny Lieu
 on 
Australia's 2016 Olympics uniform goes full on private school preppy
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - MARCH 30: Australian athletes pose in the Australian 2016 Rio Olympic Games Opening Ceremony uniform during the Australian Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Uniform Official Launch at Bondi Icebergs on March 30, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Credit: Matt king/Getty Images

Can you believe it's been four years since we last argued over the Australian Olympic team's uniform?

Well, depending on your taste, privilege and education, the 2016 iteration of the opening ceremony uniform is a green and gold private school nightmare worth getting in a schoolyard brawl over. 


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Like a scene straight out of Gossip Girl, Australian Olympians assembled to reveal the uniform on Wednesday at Bondi's Icebergs in Sydney, which was designed by local label Sportscraft. It's the seventh time the "iconic lifestyle brand" has designed the Australian uniforms in the 102-year history of competing in the Olympics.

Featuring a minty fresh green pinstriped blazer, green and gold ties or scarves, plus pearly white shirts, shorts, skirts and TOMS shoes -- you'd better hope they stay away from the tomato sauce while wearing this ensemble.

 Bright, classic-looking and inoffensive to the right crowd, this year Australia's Olympians will have no problems fitting in down at the yacht/polo/golf club.

It's arguably a vast improvement on the uniforms in years gone by, which were marked by shrouds of controversy and debate over the fact that they were, well, ugly. 



Somehow, for eight years Australia's Olympians looked like the crew members of a defunct regional airline. Let's take a look at the bad old years.

2012

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Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2008

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Credit: ANOEK DE GROOT/AFP/Getty Images

2004

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Credit: Getty Images

And then there was 1984...


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Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com

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