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50 Freaky Photos Of Olympians And Other Athletes To Give You A New Perspective On The Human Body
With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics well underway despite the year-long delay due to Covid, the internet is abuzz with news about sports. The world of high-level sports is far more bizarre than you might imagine, however, and we’ve got the photos to prove it. Bored Panda has collected some utterly weird pics of Olympic athletes from over the years that will make you see them and the human body in an entirely different light.
As you’re scrolling down, upvote the photos that you found the most interesting. My personal favorites (and don’t let this affect you in any way) are the x-ray of the gymnast and the artistic photo of Usain Bolt with bits of the running track stuck to his back.
Whether you’re exercising to be a future Olympian or simply want to improve your health (heck, I personally want to lose some of the pounds I packed on during the last lockdown), one of the core things that you need to keep in mind is honesty.
Being honest about your goals, why you’re exercising, what you hope you achieve, and what your current fitness level is currently like is essential for anyone. Whether they're a professional athlete or someone who's putting on their first pair of running shoes. It’s from this realistic evaluation of our own abilities that we can move forward and achieve great things.
I reached out to fitness expert Jack Bly for a chat about the importance of having a proper diet and the chronic issues that some athletes face. Check out his interview with Bored Panda below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Dead Last Of Her Heat In 800 Meters, But Yet We Are All Proud Of You: Sarah Attar, First Saudi Woman To Compete In Athletics At The Olympics
Lindsay Cotterell 4 years ago
How does this relate to the article title? "Freaky photos of athletes/ giving a perspective of the human body"??
James Pointer 4 years ago
It's "freaky" because she's a woman being allowed to represent Saudi Arabia for the first time. The fact she is there is implied an oddity.
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Serial pacifist 4 years ago
Could have done without the "dead" last part of the comment, but ok, the important thing is that ice has been broken.
Stephanie Keith 4 years ago
It's just an expression. Sometimes people assume there is something more to it. Or that a person is being malicious are there intent somehow bad. People over think way to much when sometimes it's just a comment with nothing behind it.
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Melissa Spencer 4 years ago
Dead last in the Olympics is way better than most of us can do! She should be proud.
RELATED:
#2
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Became The First Olympic Gold Medallist For The Philippines
CatWoman312 4 years ago
Read about this, good on her! I’m wondering if they never heal. I use to do weightlifting in high school, which was in the early 2000’s. I still have calluses on both my hands that have never fully healed.
Rebecca O’Donnell 4 years ago
The calluses on my hands finally went away about 2 decades after I stopped doing what made them.
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Brandy Grote 4 years ago
Trolls online have said she is infertile, and unfeminine. Threatened by a strong woman doing what she wants...
Sandi Hughes 4 years ago
Brilliant picture! We easily see the reward without the sacrifice. Thank you for sharing your stunning image! <3
#3
Size Difference Between Simone Biles And A US Volleyball Player David Lee
Rissie 4 years ago
Yes it does, I don't think he can do what she does and vv. That's the whole thing. Size does matter and give you advantages in certain situations :)
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Patrick J. 4 years ago
For those who don't know (like me), Simone Biles is a US artistic gymnast.
Jon S. 4 years ago
Thank you, I did think that was vital information missing
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Calypso poet 4 years ago
I'm 5' 8" and would love stand between them! Except drinking vodka and commenting on BoredPanda isn't an Olympic sport. But I do it like it is!
I was interested to find out just how important a person's diet is to their overall fitness. I'd often heard that you can't out-train a bad diet and Jack confirmed that this is the case for the vast majority of us. It's not just a soundbite, it's the truth except for a handful of elite athletes and Olympians who have been dedicated to their sport from a young age.
"Diet is of the UPMOST importance," Jack told Bored Panda. "For 99% of people, you cannot out-train a bad diet. Only high-level athletes are able to somewhat do so due to their extremely high activity level. But even then, their performance will be negatively affected."
#4
I Was Born With A Condition: Pectus Excavatum. Which I Know Sounds Like A Harry Potter Spell. My Deformity Began Appearing Around Age 10
My name is Cody Miller. I am not a typical Olympic swimmer. Like most sports the taller you are the better... Most swimmers are incredibly tall, well above 6ft... I'm 5'11 and only weigh 170lbs. More often than not, I'm the smallest person in the pool. My condition puts stress on my respiratory system. Tests have shown that my sunken sternum and odd placement of other bones has caused a reduced lung capacity... To what extent is unknown. Doctors have said my maximum breathing capacity is likely reduced by 12-20%. Also... I'm diagnosed asthmatic... Which I leaned, from studies run on me in college, has nothing to do with my pectus condition. I live with difficult circumstances for a swimmer. Despite my disadvantages, I've dedicated my life to swimming... And I've never gave up. Like a lot of you, I have struggled with body image problems through out my life. I struggled with my appearance from a young age. I was a kid who was afraid to take off his shirt in gym class... people thought I was weird. At swim meets, I walked around the pool deck awkwardly while people stared and pointed at me. I was weird and abnormal... However, I've realized this: No one is 100% satisfied with the way they look. Everyone has some thing about themselves they dislike. And that's OK! Professional athletes, models... everyone has their own insecurities! I've embraced the fact that I have a giant hole in my chest! It's OK! Monday night. June 27th, 2016 in Omaha Nebraska. USA Swimming Olympic Trials took place at the CenturyLink Center live on NBC, in front of a crowd of 17,500 people, I swam in lane 5 of the Finals of the men's 100 meter breast stroke. Only 2 athletes per event qualify for the Olympic Games. 2 swimmers to represent the U.S.A in the 100 meter breast stroke... I'd been dreaming about this moment my entire life. One wrong move and it's over... The pressure of a life long dream... Years and years of training. Thousands and thousands of hours of preparation for a race that lasts 59 seconds... 2 lengths of the pool... 1 start... 1 turn... 1 finish... 1 moment... 1 opportunity... I did it... The feeling is still indescribable... I qualified for the Rio Olympics. My new Olympic team mate and I hug.Seeing the Olympic rings next to my name... I try not to cry... I did... like a baby...
Noel Benavente 4 years ago
I do have it too (Pectus Excavatum), i remember being a little ashamed of it when i was a kid, but at some point i thought there is nothing to be ashamed for, and i feel totally ok when i'm at the beach or in a pool. Sometimes i even don't remember having it. I'm a runner and i'm planning to run my first marathon before 2021 ends, i'll be 46 by then. IMG_202107...f28e0d.jpg 
Rose Rosee 4 years ago
Noel, thanks for sharing that. I have a lot of insecurities and at my big age I thought I would be over them, but I'm not. You're a powerful person and I know you will rock out that marathon. Oh Happy Birthday😁👏
Load More Replies... Rissie 4 years ago
He's awesome and I just have to tell about my husband having this too and him thinking he has a fat belly because, from his point of view, that's what this looks like. Sometimes ideas just get stuck in your mind. Especially when it comes to body image, we are so prone to that. Because most people you think look at you like that, aren't actually looking at it at all. It's mostly you thinking they do. And it takes only one comment to totally ingrain the idea that they were indeed looking at something you mistakenly think the whole world looks at.
CHRIS DOMRES 4 years ago
I am 66 years old and have been a lap swimmer since I was 20. Always struggled with breathing hard and endurance. My ribcage has the same condition. I had the same low self image most of my youth. Going through the Rolfing deep tissue massage therapy when I was 34 years old helped open up my breathing capacity. Good to see someone who went so far with this limitation.
Raven DeathShade 4 years ago
My older brother and my baby brother have the same thing. My big brother had difficulties breathing at around 10 to 12, so we're a bit worried for when my younger brother will start. I mean, I'll be around 30 when he's 12, so I won't have to deal with it, but I'm worried.
Load More Replies... Linda Williams 4 years ago
Wow, my 8 year old has the same deformity. Didn't know you could become a top athlete with it. Super💪!!
alice in nowhereland 3 years ago
his wife taught (dunno if she still does) at my old elem school!
RandomBeing 4 years ago
it took me a minute to figure out what was wrong then I saw it like "oh theres a frickin hole in his chest!"
#5
Leg Muscles Of The First Perfect 10 In Olympic History, At Age 14. Nadia Comaneci
Sarcastic Cow 4 years ago (edited)
I read an article about her recently...she was abused by Romanian regime at that time, as well as other athletes in former ´ost block.´ Terrible living conditions, in which even gymnastic drill looks like an afternoon walk in the rose garden.
Seán Baron 4 years ago
There was a story of a former East German athlete, female by the way, Ho thanks to the East Bloc regime of drug cheating with steroids etc, that when she died, during her autopsy, she was more male than female. She'd even developed male sexual organs.
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James Pointer 4 years ago
I just watched her 1976, performance, this photo is not that. This image is from her 1980 performance. As extra information, In 1976 she was awarded 7 perfect 10's winning 3 gold medals, and in 1980 Moscow she won 2 more gold medals and attained 2 more perfect 10's
Rolf Hofmann 4 years ago
This is not Nadia Comaneci on this picture, it's my wife Evelyne, former member of the swiss national gym team. Compare the stripes on the leotard. Romanians do have them in red/yellow/blue. When you watch Nadia on Videos at the 80is games in Moscow, you can verify this. But nice, everybody is liking the picture. The faces are similar, but not equal. :-)
#6
An X-Ray Of A Gymnast Performing An Exercise
Mohammad Ammar 4 years ago
Competitive gymnastics is actually really bad for your body. Behind all those gold medals are a bunch of injuries you really don't wanna hear about.
Toko Danganronpa 4 years ago
I've known gymnasts and injuries, according to them, are very common. Many quit due to injuries.
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Abagail Pool 4 years ago
That's highly likely a CT than a normal xray. A normal X-ray would show more bones (like the pelvis, legs, arms, etc. CT take slices of the human body, still uses radiation.
Andy Acceber 4 years ago
My spine hurts just looking at this, but good for them! The human body is amazing.
Hufflepuff 4 years ago
In case anyone was wondering, this person was doing a chest stand, which is actually a contortion pose. While many gymnasts are very flexible, this isn’t really a common position for most gymnastic skills, and the caption is a little bit misleading
According to fitness expert Jack, some of the issues that professional bodybuilders face aren't the ones that you'd immediately think of. "In terms of bodybuilding, flexibility and stretching are a very minor issue. The actual issue it tends to come back to when bodybuilders face chronic injuries is overuse and inflammation," he explained to me.
"This is why I highly recommend a lower volume, high-intensity approach along with sufficient deloads and exercise variation to avoid such injuries," Jack said.
#7
It May Look Easy On TV, But Just A Reminder Of What The Ski Jumpers Are Staring At. View From The Top Of The Olympic Ski Jump In Sochi, Russia
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
It doesn’t look easy on TV, it looks terrifying, this photo confirms it.
Greg Tokash 4 years ago
I was looking for a way to word my response, you beat me by 10 hours lol
Load More Replies... ThoughtsAreNotFacts 4 years ago
Imagine going dow this for the very first time! This takes guts! (my guts would escape my body)
Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)
Luckily, you start with smaller ramps and work your way up. The ones are for ski-flying (and not ski-jumping) and the athletes love them (fun fact: some of them are only used for competitions and never for training)
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Clearly sunny 4 years ago (edited)
😂😂 I'd pass out a quarter of the way down.
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Holesalongthebottom 4 years ago
I was thinking that too. An Olympic medal should be given for making it up the stairs with out dying or loosing control of your bowels.
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Night Owl 4 years ago
Depending on the materials used, you could probably still use it. It's a rare outdoor winter sport you can do year around. The only problem weather-wise are the winds, fog (because of the visibility) or too much snow on the tracts (because it's slowing you down before the jump and you don't want that during a competition) but that could usually be dealt with if the snowfall is not too heavy during the competition ......, anyway, the biggest weather problem are usually the winds
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#8
It's All About The Olympics
Linus Nilsson 4 years ago
So he blew them with the mouth, the nostrils, and the nipples. I could do that, I just don't want to.
Queen Jackson. 4 years ago
Oh of course. With the olympics you can hardly tell the difference
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#9
Ex-World Champion Cyclist Janez Brajkovic Leg After A Race
HardTruths 4 years ago (edited)
Store this image in my head together with ballerinas' tortured feet... 😱
Anne 4 years ago
He needs better shoes though.. the ankle and heel marks are too extra (I see the calf muscles - but that's expected - the chafing on his ankle and heel looks preventable to me)
Chodz 4 years ago
I think a world champion cyclist probably knows best what kind of shoes to wear.
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According to Dr. Shane Murphy, talent, determination, and a love for what you do are all part of what makes someone an elite athlete.
"Definitely, talent is key. You need to have physical abilities to excel in a sport and speed, strength, endurance and coordination are vital. But determination is also a huge component of success. You have to love what you do in order to put in the roughly 10,000 hours of deliberate practice that Anders Ericsson’s famous research indicates is needed to become an expert. But I think many different types of personalities can become successful Olympians. Certainly, we see a wide variety of personality types on the USA Olympic team," he told the American Psychological Association.
#10
Throwing Out The First Pitch For The Houston Astro's
Calypso poet 4 years ago
Can the header mention this is GOAT Simone Biles who deserves all our love right now? She is getting some undeserved hate after all she has been through.
Hufflepuff 4 years ago
@aussie snowdropper, she didn’t want to pull out. She has been training for the olympics for thousands of hours, she wouldn’t pull out unless she had to. You probably aren’t a gymnast, but even I, as a level 6 gymnast know how scary and dangerous getting lost in the air the way she did can be. Because of how incredibly difficult her skills are, if she had stayed in the competition, it would have been very, very unsafe. Also, the gymnast that was subbed in already had a routine prepared, because coaches have a back up in case of injuries and problems. Yes, it was hard for the team, but safety comes first, and the team still did amazing. So unless you went through what happened to her, which you haven’t, don’t spread hate.
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#11
Feet From Dutch Olympic Swimming Champion Maarten Van Der Weijden After Swimming 163 Km/101 Mi In 55 Hours To Raise Money For Cancer Research
Caro Caro 4 years ago
His foundation has helped research. One of the projects: Oct 16, 2020 12:30 PM Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have discovered a new location for the salivary glands. This is probably good news for patients with a tumor in their head and neck area, because radiation doctors can now spare that area to avoid possible side effects. On Friday, October 16, they will publish their results in Radiotherapy & Oncology, together with Amsterdam UMC, UMCG and UMC Utrecht.
Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
our skin does this to help us grip onto things better when we are wet.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
Love the patterns! Looks like the whirls in Skyrim in the giant's camps.
#12
4'8" Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles Standing Next To 7'1" Shaq
Colin Matthews 4 years ago
Shaq is feakishly huge. Congrats to him for not resting on his laurels, but going out and getting his MBA.
hotdogcity 4 years ago (edited)
What’s even crazier is that the height she’s able to reach in jumps is even higher than Shaq’s height. (She can reach about 10ft on floor) So much power in such a tiny human. Just spectacular
The Olympics isn’t just about competing to see who’s best. Earlier this week, Bored Panda wrote about how the women of the German national gymnastics team chose to wear full-body suits instead of leotards at the Olympics to take a stand against the sexualization of young women in the sport. You can read our article about it right over here.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about health, fitness, and how we can motivate ourselves to become the best we can be. Previously, I spoke about fitness with experts Jack Bly and Paulius Lipskis. In my earlier chat with Jack, he pointed out that having the support of a professional by your side will give you better results. What’s more, it’ll help keep you honest.
#13
Olympians Alexander Volkov (Volleyball) And Seda Tutkhalyan (Gymnast). Team Russia
Treessimontrees 4 years ago
It's not team Russia, it's the Russian Olympic Committee, as Russia is banned for repeatedly entering athletes who routinely cheat.
layyla victoria 4 years ago
There are really awful puns about this situation in Polish language...
#14
After Blazing Up The Track I Take It With Me
Crazy Meerkat Lady 4 years ago
I thought they were tiny moles / skin tags (like the ones Morgan Freeman has) before I read the comments
Nadya Raymond 4 years ago
This is the Blue Tracks Mona Campus in Jamaica...that's dirt on his back...he takes the track with him...it's a metaphor
Anthony Nizza 4 years ago
They wear spiked shoes and they tear up the track surface when they run.
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After Sixteen Stages In Tour De France I Think My Legs Look Little Tired
Michelle M 4 years ago
Little tired? I feel like I've been using the word in a wrong way my whole life
Signe Manat Hansen 4 years ago
Because the veins are visible through the skin and also the lighting
Load More Replies... Andy Acceber 4 years ago
It looks like you're transforming into stone. So cool. Good on you for completing your ride!
“If you’re someone who is SERIOUS about making a permanent body transformation but feels like you’ve tried everything before, don’t want to do another miserable diet, or don’t have much time to commit… you need to invest in a coach,” he told Bored Panda earlier.
“Countless studies show the power of accountability when it comes to achieving any goal. And we know that where we invest our time & money reveal our true priorities. If you want an area to improve you MUST invest your resources there. And, just know that EVERYONE is capable of achieving the body they can be proud of. You can do this!!!”
#16
Verified On The Eve Of US Nationals
Lance d'Boyle 4 years ago
We did this for state championships in high school. Carl was shaving his legs in the bath tub when someone asked him a question. He turned and answered and then looked at his razor noticed the long piece of skin that the just removed from his shin. Moral of the story: pay attention to what you're doing when shaving.
Seán Baron 4 years ago
I remember watching the Opening Ceremony of the Atlanta Games in 1996, and during the Athletes Parade, the commentator, Barry Davies just threw out "of course not all the athletes will be entering g the stadium, the swimmers will be back at the Athletes Village, shaving each other's bodies"! Whoa! Calm down there Barry!!
Melanie Weatherwax 4 years ago
Next time, try a shaving device made for women: they are usually, in my experience (37f, Dutch) more user friendly than the male versions.
First Name Last Name 4 years ago
You do NOT want to use Nair all over your body like that, especially on a regular basis!
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#17
In 2009 J.R. Celski Sliced Through His Entire Left Quadriceps With His Right Skate Blade At The U.S. Olympic Trials
My first major sports injury happened at the 2010 U.S. Short Track Speed Skating Olympic Trials. It was the competition I had to do well at in order to secure a spot on my first Olympic team. The fall happened in one of the last races of the competition, the 500 meters, known for absolute top speed. I fell in the corner and put the front six inches of my blade straight into my quad. I bounced off the pads with the blade still in my leg, looked down and had to pull it out myself because of the awkward position that I was in. I completely severed the VMO “tear drop muscle” and luckily barely missed the femoral artery which might’ve been the end. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever gone through, especially because in the moments after, I started realizing that I might not be able to achieve the goal I set out for in the first place. If not for the people around me including my family, friends, and medical staff, I wouldn’t have been able to get back on my feet, especially in time to go to the Olympics and win two medals.
Ivy la Sangrienta 4 years ago
Regular skates have shorter blades. It's extremely rare to cut yourself with them. Other people however...lol.
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Katie Fink 4 years ago
Femoral artery. If he had severed that he could have bled out pretty quickly on the ice without a tourniquet. (I don't know how fast pretty quickly is but I think we're talking 5 mins or less) Apply pressure and if that's not working, make a tourniquet. The leg can be saved with surgery to reattach the blood vessels
Load More Replies... kjorn 4 years ago
remember Clint Malarchuk (goaltender in nhl hockey) when he got his throat sliced by a skating blade. Blood all over the ice and almost die.
Beans 4 years ago (edited)
Wow, I just read about this, and that was crazy. He was only saved because his teams athletic trainer was a former combat medic, and he knew to reach in and pinch off the artery until medics could come stabilize him. He also kneeled on his neck to lower his breathing and heart-rate. He woulda bled out otherwise. Crazy!
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#18
Olympic Rower's Hands
Abbey Impson 4 years ago
I want to know how long does it take for the skin to revert back to normal
ThoughtsAreNotFacts 4 years ago
My goodness! How long does it typically take for this to resolve?
Hermione Granger 4 years ago
Oof. This happened to me. I went hiking early in the morning a few weeks ago, then didn’t take my damp shoes off for a long time. It HURT. I had to walk on the balls of my feet for like an hour, and even that was barely tolerable. ALWAYS take wet clothes off, ESPECIALLY shoes and socks.
Meanwhile, personal trainer Paulius shared with me that we should strive to be as honest about our bodies, health, and fitness levels as we can be. Only then can we focus on what matters. Paulius suggested that we accept and embrace ourselves as we are, but avoid looking for excuses for our unhealthy habits.
“It’s also a problem if you view healthy living as something that you’re forced to do. If you’re constantly angry, tired, and you’re low on energy—it’s an issue,” Paulius told Bored Panda in an interview for a previous article.
#19
Olympic Abs
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
I worked hard for my abs, that's why I keep them safe under a layer of blubber
Paola Martz 4 years ago
And the most important thing is that those are not just show off abs (nothing wrong with working out for aesthetic reasons), but were developed in order to perform their routines. It makes you thinking how much core strength is needed to perform gymnastics
Calypso poet 4 years ago
My car is in the shop for brakes so I don't even have that!
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Leisurely Loner 4 years ago
Madison Kocian. She was on the 2016 Olympic team along with Simone and Aly. She won silver on bars. :)
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Kristy MacGregor 4 years ago
My dad still tells me to wear more clothes or dress more modest. If in a bathingsuit, u better be in it NOT walking around. I'm raising my kids to feel comfortable in their skin/bodies but to leave some for imagination at least til u are old enough to make real decisions on ur own & can deal w attention from others responsibly. My hope is for them to never feel insecure but I know in today's society with these unrealistic expectations of body image projected onto our children, that's easier said than done!
Mimi777 4 years ago
I know what you mean. I hope my daughter doesn’t grow up to be insecure like I was when I was younger. And my dad is the same way.
Load More Replies... #20
When You Spend Every Day On A Bike vs. When You Retire And Ride Casually
#21
Dutch Track Cyclist Laurine Van Riessen Riding The Wall Of The Track At The Rio Olympics
Seabeast 4 years ago
As long as she kept her speed high enough, it should have been safe. The faster you go on a banked track, the more perpendicular you are to the surface. Go too slow and you hit a pedal and slide down the banking. (Ask me how I know!)
Queen Jackson. 4 years ago
You’ve done it before haven’t you, you cheeky sea beast. How could you possibly have known?
Load More Replies... The personal trainer reiterated that you can’t force a person to change. They’ll change only if that desire for a different lifestyle comes from within.
“Usually, our unhealthy habits are a result of constant stress and our behavior that’s meant to protect us from it. If we would have an honest chat with ourselves, we’d clearly see that we’re dissatisfied with ourselves only when we feel that we’re using our bad habits to cover our emotions,” he said.
#22
The Difference Between An Olympic Swimmer And An Olympic Gymnast
Grace Galan 4 years ago
As much as they would be cute, it’s not okay to ship people in real life. It’s gross and a total invasion of privacy.
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Louloubelle 4 years ago
I was on the gymnastic team in high school, and at 5'3", was told I was too tall.
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Monday 4 years ago
The smaller the gymnast the easier it is to do all the cool midair stuff they do. Some studies also suggest that the lifestyles gymnasts follow might stunt their growth (not the training itself but rather eating habits to keep their weight down and make moving easier).
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#23
George Hincapie's Legs After The Tour De France Race
Tobin Kern 4 years ago
Well he was caught doping so thats probably what it was.
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Steffen Rehm 4 years ago
Varicose veins i have them too, mostly harmless, but can get fast dangerous.
Rissie 4 years ago
Varicose veins, it's seen in cyclists a lot. It's not uncommon at all in the rest of the population, but this is very extensive.
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Sean Harrison 4 years ago
If I saw that on my leg, I'd be running my ass to the emergency room.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
One issue with erythropoietin use is that clotting is an issue. I always wondered if this was a side effect of the doping. And he rode with Lance at the height of US Postal doping. So dangerous that they could die in their sleep.
#24
British Synchronized Swimmer Olivia Federici Stretching
Dodo 4 years ago
I'd love to try it but if I managed, I know I'd get stuck like that
Load More Replies... Hilary Mol 4 years ago
I'd love to know how synchronized swimmers initially get into the sport. One of my college roommates did synchro, and she was introduced to the sport by a classmate when she was younger. She said if that hadn't happened, she probably would never have even known what the sport was.
Purple Panda Rae'n 4 years ago
Ah! To be able to do this kind of a stretch, though, is just AMAZING!!!
“However, if we accept that we’re not perfect, we’re not pressured to change. That’s when you start developing a natural desire and curiosity to find out what the best possible version of you is,” Paulius noted.
This is a point that I believe is crucial. Realistically speaking, even if only a select few can become Olympic athletes, at the end of the day, what truly matters is us striving to be the best that we can be. Perhaps not Olympians. Perhaps not perfect. But powerful, healthy, full of grit, drive, and energy.
#25
Anything Possible Right?
Sarah 4 years ago
It isn't; it's fake. Look at his jacket; it should be falling toward the floor, but it's not.
Load More Replies... Hilary Mol 4 years ago
one semi-handstand on the adjustment bed and we'll have to put on Lionel Richie's "Dancing on the Ceiling".
Llama_flower93 4 years ago
Why is this in here? If this was real the right side of his jacket would be sagging onto his body. And what does this have to do with sport bodies?
#26
Size Difference Between Basketball Players And Gymnasts
Andy Acceber 4 years ago
I wonder how they design rooms in the Olympic Village. Some folks would need extra long beds, and for others, a twin sized bed would be plenty.
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
I saw some athletes doing a video tour of their rooms and it's possible to add extra bits onto the cardboard bed frames they're using this year
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#27
Hungarian Weightlifter Janos Baranyai's Right Arm Gave, Ripping Apart Ligaments And Muscle Under The Weight
He pushed himself to lift 148 kilograms (326.3 pounds) during the men’s 77kg weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Otter 4 years ago
This is why I've stopped watching sports. The top athletes are now past natural human top functioning, thanks to performance enhancing drugs a nd other things, so they're doing things the human body was not designed to do. Like lifting weights that are intrinsically dangerous.
Tami 4 years ago
Even young people in the gym are really pushing it these days. Kudos to them for wanting to be fit, but they could be damaging their joints and won't know it until later. I've had some shoulder issues from years of rather heavy lifting, and the surgeon pointed to the cartilage shown in the MRI and said, "See this thinning? We see that in weight lifters."
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Arctic Fox Lover 4 years ago
Well stop taking pictures and go help him! Looks like he's in soooo much pain right now!!
#28
The Hands Of Olympic Swimming Champion Van Der Weijden After A 163km Swim
oli 4 years ago
They never come back, she will transform her self to coral reef slowly
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Rissie 4 years ago
He was swimming outside during this ordeal, in ditches and channels. So, pretty sure there's enough gunk underneath the nails. Just not the directly visible kind.
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#29
Acrobatic Gymnastics Elite And Level 10 Training Camp At Karolyis Olympic Training Site
Robert T 4 years ago
The girl in blue on the far left is holding two of her team mates - that's the same as the weightlifter further up - twice her bodyweight!
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Two_rolling_black_eyes 4 years ago
In 2008 (the most recent one I could find), it cost $425 per week to train there. Imagine being a parent and moving your whole family across country so your 12 year old can attend. Almost all of the jobs in the nearby town are in law enforcement, with most of those working at 1 of 5 prisons. The doctor working at the gym was accused of 265 cases of sexual assault of a minor and convicted for 10 they had physical evidence. It must have been a dystopian nightmare for a chance at 1 of 6 spots on the national team. Anyone who says Biles was soft for withdrawing is delusional.
Pam Tupper 4 years ago
YMCA! Come on....has no one else heard this tune upon first sightings?!
Amina Hays 4 years ago
Oops, I didn't mean to press send. As I was saying "these gymnasts will still be young when they retire, they're perfect for something like Cirque du Soleil.
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#30
Simone Biles With Lebron James
#31
Wild Spring Break Night, Recovery Compression For Soreness And Movies
Andy Acceber 4 years ago
That looks amazing. I'd love to try that treatment -- though I'm definitely not skilled enough to be an Olympic level athlete who NEEDS that treatment.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
This is to prevent edema (swelling) from the abuse her body takes. It's not for fun. It's medical.
Signe Manat Hansen 4 years ago
Don't "poor girl" Simone Biles. Have some goddamn respect.
Load More Replies... #32
I Know I Am Not The Only Gymnast Who Sometimes Watches TV Like This
thatmagicgaychick 4 years ago
Sort-of ballerina, I do something similar. It is comfortable!
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SydneyP 4 years ago
If I watched tv like this I would have to do literally everything like this because I'd never get myself back out of this position! Oh I can see my chubby rolls now about to pop under pressure! I think I'll just eat my brownies and lay on my couch cuddling a soft blanket like the out of shape being I am!
deanna woods 4 years ago
Sometimes as a non gymnast I watch TV like that. I have been told that I am flexible.
#33
How Huge US Fencer Miles Chamley-Watson's Hand Is
All Smiles from Miles when I'm back again with my man, a legend Pele. Thank you always and special thank you for welcoming me to your beautiful country of Brazil. I can listen to this legend talk all day. Really humbling.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
Pele! He's a legend! Growing up, he was the name in soccer, now, so few people have heard of him in the northern hemisphere...
Demongrrrrl 4 years ago
I think it's the length of his arms and legs that's most important. He needs to be able to lunge and tap his opponent before the opponent hits him.
Bobert Robertson 4 years ago
They look proportional to his body? I know nothing about fencing, are big hands an advantage in holding such a tiny sword?
#34
Dutch Gymnasts
Just JoLynn 4 years ago
When you factor in how short Olympic gymnasts are this is probably a really low high five 😉🤸🏽♀️
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#35
Annemiek Van Vleuten Crashes While Leading Rio 2016 Road Race
Vuun 4 years ago
And this time she didn't know someone was ahead of her and thought she won at the finish line. Poor woman.
#36
Now This Is An Ice Bath. 30lbs Block Of Ice
Katie Fink 4 years ago
Why down vote? In the movie atomic blonde, main character takes an ice bath to promote healing after getting seriously beaten.
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#37
Keeping It Real. Wild Friday Night
#38
German Cyclist Robert Forstemann And New Zealand Cyclist Greg Henderson
#39
Michael Phelps After Cupping Therapy
Crochet lady 4 years ago
I have fibromyalgia and Hashimoto's hyperthyroidism and had two sessions done and both times had pain free days the next day for the first time in 20 years. I think it draws out toxins or something but I can tell you for a fact I felt amazing for about 24 hours after. If my insurance covered it I'd get it more often. Just because you don't understand how or why it works doesn't mean it doesn't.
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Requiem 4 years ago
Science has proven cupping is nothing more than a kink fetish, has no place in anything else
Andy Acceber 4 years ago
Where? A study please. Cupping is a centuries old tradition that's nearly impossible to study. Some people find it helpful. Others don't. Here's an article from Harvard explaining why it's so difficult to study. As far as I've seen, there's no definitive answer from "science." https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-exactly-is-cupping-2016093010402
Load More Replies... Andy Acceber 4 years ago
Cupping is great. It looks knarly, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as folks tend to guess.
Aunt Messy 4 years ago
The fact that it's about as useless as tits on a boar is beside the point?
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Turnip and a Frog 4 years ago
When I was a child, some 30 years ago, most people in my country were skilled at this. We did it for infections and bouts of cold. But now it isn’t really used anymore, considered more of na archaic method of treatment from the times before more proper medication was available. I wouldn’t say that it was very effective. It was just something you’d do when your family members were sick. It always surprises me though that it’s become such a big deal in the States and that people are actually willing to pay so much for this.
Turnip and a Frog 4 years ago (edited)
And, back in the day, instead of the fancy vacuum thingies on top of the cups, you would have a short thin stick with a cotton top, which you would moisturise with denatured alcohol. Then, holding the stick in one hand and the cup in the other, you’d light the cotton top up, very quickly insert it into the cup (which used to be made of glass) to disinfect it and for the fire to suck the air out of the cup. Then, you’d quickly put the cup onto the skin. The trick was you had to do all this fast and it had to happen right above the skin of the patient. And, as the small glass cup would get very hot in the disinfection and vacuum making, it took some skill to know when it was ready to be administered onto the skin, like literally milliseconds. Actually, it was fun 😁
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Georgia Hebert 4 years ago
With the size of the circles on his skin, it looks more like a giant squid got him!
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#40
Olympic Cyclist Robert Forstemann (Right) Shows Off Freakish 74 Cm Thighs
Francis 4 years ago
i repeat my comment from above: He stated he has a genetic defect. the protein that stops muscle growth doesn't work in him. we even breed animals with that condition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin thats the protein
Holesalongthebottom 4 years ago
Thank you for the work educating us. I saw you commented previously on a picture above with the same information and people still chose misinformation. Yes it is a condition he has. And thank you for your efforts.
Load More Replies... Andy Acceber 4 years ago
"Freakish" isn't the right word here. Isn't the whole point of this article to normalize different bodies?
Rissie 4 years ago
They trained specifically to create muscles suited for extreme conditions. If someone would be walking around like this, it would be considered "not normal". I'm not a fan of the word freakish, but this article is definitely not about "acceptance" it's about showing the extremes of human bodies.
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#41
Relaxing & Recovering. Grateful To Have Access To Such Incredible Technology To Help Heal Aches And Pains
Dodo 4 years ago
I'm curious whether the Olympic committee gives all athletes these treatments or if the athletes bring their own. If it's the latter, that's a clear advantage for wealthier nations.
bryguy 4 years ago
All of this technology and treatment devices are provided by funding to that specific team. So you are correct, there is a gap between well funded teams of developed countries and developing nations. It's called 'technological doping' by some teams.
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#42
Anyone Want To Hold My Hand
kybourbonpearls 4 years ago
If you farm and have hay, horses, and cattle, this is a norm. Mine are currently blistered from a horse that didn't want to unload from the trailer.
#43
I Have Trained Well. Hopefully I'll Have A Chance To Prove It Soon
#44
The Leg Of An Olympic Runner
Softsquatch 4 years ago
gahhh! some of these veiny leg photos are so gnarly i feel like they should come with a graphic image warning
#45
10000-Calorie Meal
Judi Michelle 4 years ago
Was this before or after he falsely accused someone of armed robbery to hide the fact they he vandalized a gas station
Hugh Walter 4 years ago
Heay! What happens at the gas station stays at the gas station! Although . . . if I ate that much asparagus at one sitting I'd be a gas station . . .
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ThoughtsAreNotFacts 4 years ago
Character flaws aside... How does Anyone eat all of this in one sitting?
Dwight k schrute. 4 years ago
I have a 10 000 calorie diet, but my body doesn't look like that.
I’m A Black Cat 4 years ago
Answering skyfire: he's a major swimmer with multiple Olympic and world championship medals. During the Olympics in Rio in 2016 he vandalized a gas station, lied about it and was later turned in and fined. Very embarrassing story. In 2018 he was charged with doping use. Anything I missed?
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#46
3 Weeks Ago I Finally Got My Knee Cleaned Up After Skiing In Pain For Years
Trying to compete in both halfpipe and slopestyle, I would just try and ignore what my body was telling me. This should have happened years ago but happy the knee is starting to feel/look like the other again(not twice the size). Excited to be back skiing like my old self again!
GoldfishCrackers 4 years ago (edited)
Probably due to recovery times. Knee surgeries can take months or more of down time depending on the procedure. That’s time your not racing, not training, possibly not even really exercising if you have to keep weight off it. Then once you’re okay to use it again you have to build up all that lost muscle and endurance from way below where it was previously. If that time frame falls over key races and competitions people will often choose to just tough it out rather than miss the opportunity to compete.
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Tommy Zhu 4 years ago
For anyone saying acupuncture is pseudoscience, it's great for releasing muscle tension built up over the years, it's just using needles to deeply massage your individual muscles where regular massage can't reach, nothing magical or fake about it. You just need to find a properly licensed practitioner.
Amanda Panda 4 years ago (edited)
I love all the pseudo science comments on a practice that is thousands of years old. I said the same thing before I had fibromyalgia for eleven years and was all but wheelchair bound. You'll try any psuedo science when your life is miserable. 3 months of acupuncture and herbs and I'm pain free since 2011. I'll take the pseudo science over literally hundreds of western medicine docs that told me the pain was in my head or pumped me full of toxic pain killers.
Amanda Panda 4 years ago
Incidentally, not a single migraine since then either. (I've had them since I was in elementary school)
Load More Replies... Amanda Panda 4 years ago
I had this done for a highschool shoulder injury that had plagued me for nearly 10 years. GONE OVERNIGHT. Love me some TCM.
Betty Vanderhooven-SchmaaSchmaa 4 years ago
Pain makes you do stupid/silly things. I've suffered purposeful bee stings and sprayed myself w an upside down can of canned air in an attempt to freeze a painful scar. Stupid. I know. I continue to suffer. My heart breaks for these athletes.💚💜💙💛
Ray Martin 4 years ago
Cupping AND acupuncture - twice the woo-woo. Why do so many athletes fall victim to this kind of pseudoscience bullshit?
Two_rolling_black_eyes 4 years ago
When you get to a certain level one is willing to do and try anything to succeed so its easy for the snake-oil salesmen to prey on their insecurity. Its the same reason Kenny Rogers got plastic surgery and Victor Lustig was able to sell the Eiffel Tower twice to scrap metal dealers. Add pain on top of a good sales pitch and things like cupping sound amazing.
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#47
Not A Bad View From 10m
Tami 4 years ago
Remember looking up at the high dive board from the pool and thinking, "That doesn't look so high." Then you get up there and 😵.
Susan Green 4 years ago (edited)
I remember that very well. There is no way I would even jump off at that height, let alone dive.
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#48
I Think I'm Doing It Wrong
Vero 4 years ago (edited)
well depend of what are you doing...if you´re recreating Robin Williams in mrs doubtfire, its on point
Susan Green 4 years ago
Damn Vero, that made me spew a bit of coffee. Spot on!!
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Olympic Bronze Medalist Julia Mancuso Skiing With A Swimsuit And A Sideways Cap
Flora 4 years ago
Who said it was recent? Looks like a pretty old school photo
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Just a girl in a crazy world 4 years ago
At the ski hill where I live, on the last day before the hill closes people go down the hill in just their underwear and the mandatory ski gear.
Erika Batzler 4 years ago
She's so adorable too - I think she's also the one who skis in a Wonder Woman outfit.
Signe Manat Hansen 4 years ago
Why don't you take your body shaming and stick it right up your ass?
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#50
Still Plenty Of Juice Left After 7mj Of Work
#54
Wednesday Treatment Day! My Triceps Needed A Bit Of Love After A Couple Tough Weights Sessions
Miss Cris 4 years ago (edited)
Why? I mean, what benefit is this suposed to do and how? I don't understand it.
Chris Jones 4 years ago
This is what it says in Wikipedia... (Just copying, not saying it's my opinion or anything.) Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin with the application of heated cups. Its practice mainly occurs in Asia but also in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. As with all alternative medicine, cupping has been characterized as a pseudoscience and its practice as quackery. Cupping practitioners attempt to use cupping therapy for a wide array of medical conditions including fevers, chronic low back pain, poor appetite, indigestion, high blood pressure, acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, anaemia, stroke rehabilitation, nasal congestion, infertility, and menstrual period cramping. Despite the numerous ailments for which practitioners claim cupping therapy is useful, there is insufficient evidence it has any health benefits and there are some risks of harm, especially from wet cupping and fire cupping.
Load More Replies... #55
Walking Around Getting Ready For Practice While Cupping My Legs. Athletes Understand The Struggle
#56
Who Would Like To Try This?
Turnip and a Frog 4 years ago
Noooo, don't freaking do this to your legs or arms! Just..don’t do this!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
I don't know... I think Sport and competitions should be fun. Sure, you have to work on yourself, but not until your body "breakes". That's not Sport anymore. Just my opinion.
Rissie 4 years ago
Sports are entertaining (to do and to watch), but also give people goals to shoot at. Sure these ar in the extremes, but it's a very conscious choice and these people enjoy their job.
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Aliquid A 4 years ago
What's with all the "cupping"? I figured that athletes at this level wouldn't fall for that sort of BS pseudoscience.
First Name Last Name 4 years ago
Athletic ability does not come with intelligence or wisdom. For those you have to train your mind like athletes train their bodies. Make a list of the smartest people in history. Few if any of them were top athletes.
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Seabeast 4 years ago
Holding an Olympics doesn't have to ruin an economy. Calgary actually made a slight profit on their winter games in 1988.
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Pezor Zass 4 years ago
top level athletes, dancers, all the professional body people: super impressive from a distance and super gross up close. plus for most of them it's a terrible, terrible life choice in the long run.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
A lot of this is very, very unhealthy and they are ruining their bodies.
First Name Last Name 4 years ago
True. But for these individuals it is worth it. For the record, they are shown what is going to happen to their bodies ahead of time. It is made clear to them what long term struggles the choice will bring to them. They freely choose to do this, and I have never run into any old and now crippled athletes who regret the decision or complain about the consequences.
Load More Replies... Hufflepuff 4 years ago
I saw a lot of gymnast height comparisons, so here’s the reason why gymnasts are so short: The gymnasts who go on to the olympics start training 9+ hours a week at the age of 3-5. The number only increases from there. That puts a lot of pressure on the body, and stunts growth.
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
I don't know... I think Sport and competitions should be fun. Sure, you have to work on yourself, but not until your body "breakes". That's not Sport anymore. Just my opinion.
Rissie 4 years ago
Sports are entertaining (to do and to watch), but also give people goals to shoot at. Sure these ar in the extremes, but it's a very conscious choice and these people enjoy their job.
Load More Replies... Aliquid A 4 years ago
What's with all the "cupping"? I figured that athletes at this level wouldn't fall for that sort of BS pseudoscience.
First Name Last Name 4 years ago
Athletic ability does not come with intelligence or wisdom. For those you have to train your mind like athletes train their bodies. Make a list of the smartest people in history. Few if any of them were top athletes.
Load More Replies... Seabeast 4 years ago
Holding an Olympics doesn't have to ruin an economy. Calgary actually made a slight profit on their winter games in 1988.
Load More Replies... Pezor Zass 4 years ago
top level athletes, dancers, all the professional body people: super impressive from a distance and super gross up close. plus for most of them it's a terrible, terrible life choice in the long run.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
A lot of this is very, very unhealthy and they are ruining their bodies.
First Name Last Name 4 years ago
True. But for these individuals it is worth it. For the record, they are shown what is going to happen to their bodies ahead of time. It is made clear to them what long term struggles the choice will bring to them. They freely choose to do this, and I have never run into any old and now crippled athletes who regret the decision or complain about the consequences.
Load More Replies... Hufflepuff 4 years ago
I saw a lot of gymnast height comparisons, so here’s the reason why gymnasts are so short: The gymnasts who go on to the olympics start training 9+ hours a week at the age of 3-5. The number only increases from there. That puts a lot of pressure on the body, and stunts growth.
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