Why do swimmers wear jackets before the race?
THE Paris 2024 Olympics is well underway – as fans tune in to the 19-day sporting spectacle.
Spectators of the swimming are wondering why competitors are wearing big winter jackets before they take to the water – SunSport has the reason why.
Why do swimmers wear jackets before the race?
The jacket is, in fact, a crucial item in a swimmer’s warm-up routine before they hit the water.
The warmth generated from the jacket leads to looser muscles, which can translate to cleaner strokes and, ultimately, a faster time.
Muscles that aren’t warmed up can feel heavy and stiff in the water, which can negatively impact a swimmer’s performance.
The jacket is a fleece-lined, zip-up with a hood that is often referred to as a parka in the swimming community.
Most parkas run down beneath the athlete’s knees, while some opt to wear the jackets all the way down to their calves.
Swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Here are all the remaining swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
All times BST
Monday, July 29
10am – 12pm
Women’s 400m Individual Medley Heats
Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats
Men’s 800m Freestyle Heats
Evening
19:30 Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final
19:40 Men’s 200m Freestyle Final
19:57 Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals
20:19 Men’s 100m Backstroke Final
20:25 Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final
20:41 Women’s 200m Freestyle Final
Tuesday, July 30
10am – 12pm
Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats
Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 1500m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 100m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Heats
Evening
19:30 Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
19:42 Men’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
19:56 Women’s 100m Backstroke Final
20:02 Men’s 800m Freestyle Final
20:25 Women’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
20:47 Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
21:01 Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final
Wednesday, July 31
10am – 12pm
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 200m Backstroke Heats
Women’s 200m Butterfly Heats
Evening
19:30 Women’s 100m Freestyle Final
19:36 Men’s 200m Butterfly Final
19:43 Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
20:07 Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final
20:37 Men’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals
20:51 Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
21:15 Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final
21:22 Men’s 100m Freestyle Final
Thursday, August 1
10am – 12pm
Women’s 200m Backstroke Heats
Men’s 50m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Heats
Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Heats
Evening
19:30 Women’s 200m Butterfly Final
19:37 Men’s 200m Backstroke Final
19:44 Men’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals
20:04 Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final
20:11 Women’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals
20:35 Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals
20:49 Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final
Friday, August 2
10am – 12pm
Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats
Women’s 200m Individual Medley Heats
Women’s 800m Freestyle Heats
Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats
Evening
19:30 Men’s 50m Freestyle Final
19:36 Women’s 200m Backstroke Final
19:43 Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final
20:00 Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinals
20:22 Women’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals
Saturday, August 3
10am – 12pm
Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 1500m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats
Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats
Evening
19:30 Men’s 100m Butterfly Final
19:37 Women’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals
20:01 Women’s 200m Individual Medley Fina
20:08 Women’s 800m Freestyle Final
20:34 Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final
Sunday, August 4
17:30 Women’s 50m Freestyle Final
17:36 Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final