Why do swimmers wear parkas before Olympic races? Here's the reason.

You know you’ve been asking this to yourself or whoever you’re watching the Olympics with.

Why is it that swimmers in Paris wear giant parkas (AKA jackets) before they enter the pool? Is it really cold in the arena? Is it a comfort issue?

For that answer, we turn to our Michelle Martinelli, who is in Paris and who wrote about it for USA TODAY Sports: ” It’s a combination of warmth and adding some personal pizzazz.”

Those parkas help muscles stay warm, and after swimming in a cold pool, it’s easier to warm up. But, also there’s a little bit of style involved. Here’s what Team USA swimmer Regan Smith told her:

“The pink gloves are my own special little flare — and the boots,” Smith said after qualifying second for the 200 fly final. “My favorite color is pink, and in swimming, you can’t really express yourself that much. You can’t do anything fun with your hair, you can’t really wear makeup. So I like incorporating fun little cute things.”