Have you ever wondered what those dark red circles are on the backs of some athletes at the Olympics?
As Paris 2024 continues on, more questions are being raised about why certain things take place.
For example why athletes bite their medals - this is due to tradition because it used to be the done thing to test their authenticity.
Or perhaps you've wondered what are in those little boxes that are given out during the medal ceremonies?
A question that seems to pop up during every Olympics revolves around the dark red circles seen on some athletes.
These marks are the result of cupping therapy, an ancient healing practice.
Cupping involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which is believed to increase blood flow and aid muscle recovery, functioning as a form of deep tissue massage.
The distinctive bruises from cupping therapy first garnered widespread attention during the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Gymnast Alexander Naddour told USA Today then that cupping was his "secret" to maintaining health, saying: "It's been better than any money I've spent on anything else."
Beyond the Olympics, basketball player Kyle Singler has also endorsed the practice.
"The bruises do look more intense than what they actually feel like, but the benefit from it is really great," he told Sports Illustrated. Singler noted that while the effects might not be immediate, cupping helps with recovery and loosening tissue over time.
The effectiveness of cupping therapy remains a topic of debate among experts.
Harvard Health reports that some studies suggest cupping may provide relief for musculoskeletal and sports-related conditions, though the quality of this evidence is "limited."
A 2022 review indicated that wet cupping, as opposed to dry cupping, could be effective for lower back pain.
While the effects look pretty extreme, it is generally considered a safe practice.
Harvard Health explains: "Most experts agree that cupping is safe. As long as those treated don't mind the circular discolorations (which fade over a number of days or weeks), side effects tend to be limited to the pinch experienced during skin suction."
While we're on the topic of Olympic questions... why do divers shower after they dive?
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, United States diving coach Jacob Brehmer told CNN: “Divers shower in between dives typically just to keep themselves and their muscles warm.”
Brehmer continued: “Usually after a diver does a dive, they will have to wait a good amount of time before their next dive. The air temperature on the pool deck may be a little chilly, so the shower can help keep muscles warm.”
"Diving is such a precise and fast-twitch sport, if the diver gets a little cold and tight, it could really affect their performance," he added.
The coach also revealed that divers use tiny, water-absorbent towels called chamois to dry off quickly.
“When the divers are flipping through the air, they are grabbing onto their legs and squeezing very tight,” he explained.
“If their legs are wet, then there’s a good possibility that … their hands will slip off their legs and they will come out of the dive early – which could result in injury and almost always lower scores.”
Not only are we watching the best athletes at the Olympics, but we're also learning things at the same time!
