Why do swimmers slap themselves? Reason why aquatic athletes hit themselves before start of race explained
PROFESSIONAL swimmers slap themselves on various muscles around their bodies before the start of a race.
Here we take a look at why this is their preferred warm-up — one used by many athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Why do swimmers slap their body?
Most professional swimmers have their own personalised warm-up routines to prepare for a race.
By slapping themselves around their bodies, either with a closed fist or open hand, the athletes can increase the flow of blood to certain muscles.
You can even see it working, as the areas targeted get red and splotchy.
The pectorals, shoulders, biceps, and triceps are essential for performing at the highest level, so those will usually be slapped first, with the arms and legs often coming next.
In 2021, USA Swimming’s director of performance Matt Barbini told Today: “They consider it part of their warm-up or activation, just making sure that there’s sort of maximal blood flow going to those parts of the body before you swim.”
The act of slapping slide has a mental aspect to it — it makes them more alert and works because swimmers believe it works.
Athletes can stand behind the blocks before a race for quite a some time, so the act of slapping helps keep pressure at bay and remove negative thoughts from their minds.
Slapping helps keep them mentally active and ready for their race.
Barbini explained: “Having a procedure and a routine that you go through during that time is really helpful mentally so you’re not just standing there letting the nerves get to you.
“You go up your left arm, you go up your right arm, go across your chest… anything that sort of kills those in-between moments before the race starts, I think, helps keep athletes calm.”
Why do swimmers shake their arms?
The shaking professional swimmers can be seen doing before a race is carried out for the same reasons as the slapping.
Shaking helps to increase the blood flow to their arms, while also psyching athletes up.
It is also a good way of keeping race-ready while waiting for the competition to commence.
Why do swimmers splash themselves with water before a race?
Even though a swimmer is about to dive into the pool, you very often see them either grab a water bottle and pour the contents all over themselves, or kneel down and throw water all over their bodies and faces.
While this may seem rather odd, it gives them a little jolt while helping to get them mentally prepared.
Also, World Aquatics has a strict regulations on pool temperatures during competitions — it must be 26°C (79°F).
So getting splashing some water on themselves reduces the shock of diving into the water as well.