Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle, 18, wore a thick, black padded jumper to the men’s 100-meter freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Monday, where he won in a world record.
He wasn’t the only swimmer to show up in winter gear.
Jack Alexie of the United States and Maxime Grusse of France also wore puffers.
It’s hard to imagine why these athletes would choose to wear padded clothing to an indoor pool in Paris, where daytime temperatures have been exceeding 35 degrees for days on end.
As Swim World Magazine, a leading U.S. swimming publication, reported last year, swimmers wear padding and other outerwear to maintain body temperature before competing.
“Muscles become less responsive when the temperature drops,” the magazine explained, “so swimmers bundle up right up until the last minute to ensure they’re at their best.”
Swimwear company Speedo has even developed a specialized waterproof parka specifically for swimmers.
The pool-specific padding includes special pockets for goggles and a swim cap.
In addition to padding, athletes wear a variety of outerwear to keep warm.
Some athletes wear hoodies, sweatshirts, and sweatpants.
In addition to padding, some athletes wear thick gloves that you”d find on a ski slope.
U.S. women’s swimmer Regan Smith wore white padding and pink gloves before her 100-meter backstroke race at the Paris Olympics.
Some athletes choose to wear padding because of the “real cold” as opposed to their performance.
As US women’s swimmer Kate Douglas told USA Today, “It’s very cold when you get in the pool. When you get out of the water, it’s so, so cold,” she said. 토토사이트