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The Globe’s all-time Olympic style score card: Where did Canada place?

From high-end designer duds to painfully tacky trousers, Odessa Paloma Parker looks at the most notable Olympic uniforms to date

Odessa Paloma Parker

This article was published more than 7 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

At this year's Games, two countries stand out when it comes to suped-up sporty style. Working with Hudson's Bay, Toronto-born designers Dean and Dan Caten of Milan-based label Dsquared2 crafted the elegant homage to Canada's two-tone flag for Rio's opening ceremony.

Team GB athlete Laura Trott pictured in adidas Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic kit in London.

Team GB athlete Laura Trott pictured in adidas Team GB Rio 2016 Olympic kit in London.

Ben Duffy/adidas via Getty Images

Great Britain benefitted from the touch of one of the country's best-known designers, Stella McCartney. Collaborating with Adidas – a brand McCartney creates luxe athleisure wear for – Team GB's look flaunts the iconic symbol of the lion and the technological innovations one would expect from the renowned sports label.

And that's not the first designer-daughter-with-musician-father win when it comes to Olympian garb. For the 2012 Games in London, Puma worked with Cedella Marley, daughter of Bob; the result was a mash-up of Jamaica's traditional colours and bold prints for the country's track and field team uniforms.

Spain's Pau Gasol, Juan-Carlos Navarro and Marc Gasol kiss their silver medals during the victory ceremony at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games Aug. 12, 2012.

Spain’s Pau Gasol, Juan-Carlos Navarro and Marc Gasol kiss their silver medals during the victory ceremony at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games Aug. 12, 2012.

Sergio Perez/REUTERS

While Spain's team outfits for the 2012 Summer Games (centre) were evocative of the country's flag, they were also reminiscent of a fast-food mascot; not the look you want to emulate while pursuing a personal best on the track.

Twenty years earlier, Australia's awkward look at the Barcelona Games opening ceremony (left) was less gym, more geography class. Complete with fedoras and gawky socks, the competing athletes appeared as if they were heading out for a tour of the outback instead of into competition.

Norway's Haavard Vad Petersson throws the stone during the Men's Curling Round Robin Session 10 against Great Britain at the Ice Cube Curling Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 16, 2014.

Norway’s Haavard Vad Petersson throws the stone during the Men’s Curling Round Robin Session 10 against Great Britain at the Ice Cube Curling Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 16, 2014.

ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

Curling has never been a chic sport (sorry) but the team from Norway has done it no favours thanks to its repeated sartorial offences. While graphic prints may rule on the runway, the clown-like zigzag-patterned pants would undoubtedly be thumbed at by the most ironic hipster.

U.S. team members parade during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 7, 2014.

And speaking of ironic: The U.S. team's Ralph Lauren-designed cardigans from the 2014 Sochi games were a nod to the sweaters better left in their wrapping on Christmas morning – more scary than merry.