By Katie Seaton, Swimming World College Intern
Broad backs. Natural faces. Wet hair. Dry skin. Too exhausted for fashion. Funky tan lines. Arms bigger than most of our male counterparts. These are just a few characteristics that can be used to describe a typical female swimmer.
Beneath a swim cap, it is hard to flaunt any of our feminine traits. The only thing that separates us from our male teammates are the swimsuits which offer slightly more coverage, and our pre-race polish. A lady swimmer’s painted nails are a last attempt at remaining girly. Besides those hot pink and purple one pieces, the glitter added to our nails is the only form of feminine expression we have. This nail paint can be used to scream out team spirit or add to the picture-perfect finish at the end of a race.
Olivia Smoliga, Georgia Bulldog and American record holder in the 50 back, is a prime example of using nails to show off her national/school pride.
http://instagram.com/p/iJFtIIQFL3/?modal=true
Stanford’s American record-holding sprinter Simone Manuel has also been seen sporting nail art in the pool.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist and Cal Bear Missy Franklin is an avid wearer of nail polish.
Many female swimmers also paint their nails depending on the mood they want to spark before a race.
“Before a meet I like to go for the red nail polish, since it alludes to power and strength,” University of Hawaii’s Alex Swanson said.
Meanwhile, her teammate Kira Webster prefers bright neon toes to look down upon before starting off the blocks.
Everything from metallic to matte, nail polish unites female swimmers. Next time you are at a swim meet, pay more attention to the gallery of nail art on display. Every girl appreciates nail recognition, even if it is coming from the competition.
Loved this article!