10 mysteries of the Olympics
Ever wonder why Olympians bite their medals? Find the answer to this and other mysteries of the Olympic games.
Ever wonder why Olympians bite their medals or why everyone gets flowers? Find out the answers to these and other odd Olympics mysteries.
Ever wonder why Olympians bite their medals or why everyone gets flowers? Find out the answers to these and other odd Olympics mysteries.
Why are athletes wearing tape? Kinesiology tape has become a breakout star of the London Games. This flexible, cloth tape is applied to achy muscles to relieve pain or encourage muscles to work more efficiently.
Why is French the first language of the Olympics? Frenchman Baron de Coubertin developed the modern Games in the 1890s, making French is the first language of the Olympic movement. French and English are now the two official languages.
Why do athletes bite their medals? While Olympic historians aren’t sure which athlete started the trend, they believe athletes first began nibbling their prizes to test the metal and make sure it was real gold.
What's with the neon shoes? The fluorescent footwear spotted on many track and field athletes comes from Nike. They are the company's official Olympic track shoes. And the color? It's known as "Volt."
Why do all medalists get flowers? This has been a tradition since the original Olympics between the Greek city-states, when the winners received olive wreathes.
Who's the runner with the flower in her hair? That's U.S. 800-meter champion Alysia Montano, who wears a flower in her hair every race to signify strength and femininity.
Why doesn't sand stick to the beach volleyball players? The type of sand that is used in Olympic competition is regulated by the International Volleyball Federation and is designed to be stick-free.
What the heck are the London Olympic mascots? Wenlock and Mandeville have caught some flack for being, well, weird looking. They are supposed to depict two drops of steel from a steelworks in Bolton in honor of the Industrial Revolution.
What's with the pink everywhere? Pink is one of the colors used to "brand" this Olympics, along with blue, green and orange. Pink is supposed to signify friendship, warmth and well-being.
Why do swimmers wear two caps? The double cap ensures a swimmer's goggles stay on. It also reduces drag, the resistance the body encounters as it moves through the water.
