 Bikinis have become a major component of marketing various women 's sports . It is an official uniform for beach volleyball and is widely worn in athletics and other sports . Sports bikinis have gained popularity since the 1990s . However , the trend has raised some criticism as an attempt to sell sex . Female swimmers do not normally wear bikinis in competitive swimming . The International Swimming Federation ( FINA ) voted to prohibit female swimmers from racing in bikinis in its meeting at Rome in 1960 . 
