Text: Elephant Microvision
Edited by Elephant Microvision
Swimmers often shave off armpit hair, sweat hair, and other hairs when preparing for competitions, so why do they take such care to remove every excess hair?
Competing in water during menstrual breaks is also a serious challenge for female athletes, and how do they cope with the physiological changes in their bodies while continuing to perform at their best?
01
Why shave and wear a swim cap?
Divers' movements on the springboard can be completed in just a few seconds, but it takes years of hard training and relentless hard work behind the scenes.
Every time they fly into the water, it is the pursuit of ultimate perfection and self-challenge.
The Chinese diving team has performed well in the world competitions, creating many remarkable results, they are not only technically exquisite, but also show tenacious fighting spirit and teamwork strength. It has even won 11 consecutive championships, making the Chinese diving team a good story on the world diving stage, and making countless Chinese proud.
The success of this team is not accidental, but the result of the sweat and hard work they put in behind them, they work hard every day to study their skills, constantly challenge themselves, just to achieve the best in the game, their success is not only a personal glory, but also the glory of the entire national sports cause.
Spectators may have noticed that many divers and swimmers have smooth skin, but this is no coincidence.
Regardless of gender, these athletes prepare for the competition with a special preparation: a thorough shave of their entire body hair and armpit hair.
This seemingly small gesture actually has a profound meaning.
This is not only for the pursuit of physical perfection, but also to maintain a good image on the field, in the competition, they not only represent themselves, but also the image messenger of the whole country, so maintaining a neat and generous image is regarded as a basic professional quality.
Other than that, in top-level matches, meticulous attention to detail can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Studies have shown that even small differences in drag can affect an athlete's performance underwater. Even the smallest hairs can increase the resistance of the water when they are in the water, but when the hair is removed, the water can flow more smoothly through the body, reducing the resistance.
In competitions, swimmers race against the clock for every slight advantage, and this seemingly insignificant advantage can be the difference between victory and defeat in a top-level competition, and this small difference in resistance can even directly affect their performance and final position.
As a result, shaving became a necessity to fight for every ounce of advantage in the game.
Shaving is a good precaution to prevent hair loss from polluting the water, and athletes must also maintain good personal hygiene, not only by cleaning their bodies regularly, but also by wearing specially designed swimming caps.
In addition, swimming caps are designed with water resistance in mind, and these caps often have a function that fits snugly around the head to reduce water resistance, allowing the athlete to move more smoothly in the water, while also helping to prevent hair and body hair from falling out of the water.
In the process of preparing for a match, every detail can affect the outcome of a match, and even a small margin can make the difference between victory and defeat. As a result, they not only strive for technical excellence, but also maintain the best of their personal appearance and hygiene to ensure that the game is fair and enjoyable.
In terms of pool water quality, many swimming venues will conduct regular water quality testing to ensure that the water quality is clean and hygienic, and in order to further ensure the purity of the water quality, most of them will conduct regular water quality testing.
These tests include monitoring the pH, chlorine content and total number of bacteria in the pool water, and only by ensuring that the water quality meets the standards can we provide a clean and safe environment for the athletes and ensure their health and safety.
This kind of preparation before the competition is not only responsible for their own image, but also for the adherence to professional ethics. Although shaving body hair can cause some trouble for athletes, they know that it is a necessary step to maintain fairness and personal hygiene on the field, and it is also a respect for the rules of the game and a reverence for the profession.
At the same time, this preparation is also a reflection of their professional attitude, and they are willing to put in all their efforts in order to achieve higher results.
02
How do female athletes participate in water competitions during their menstrual period?
In the world of athletics, female athletes have unique responsibilities and challenges, not only to deal with the intense pressure of training, but also to find ways to overcome the discomforts that come with menstrual periods.
Especially in events such as diving and swimming, the arrival of menstrual period brings additional distress to them.
At this critical time, they have to deal with many difficulties, and the menstrual period can lead to physical discomfort such as abdominal pain, fatigue, and mood swings, which can be a serious test for tricks that require focus and precision.
Not only can menstrual periods affect their physical performance, making them feel more tired and weak during training and competitions, but more importantly, they may also feel uneasy about their comfort in the water, making it more difficult to perform difficult maneuvers underwater.
In these events, female athletes face a significant physiological disadvantage, and staying in the water for long periods, especially at lower water temperatures, can exacerbate their discomfort during their menstrual period.
But even so, despite all the difficulties, the female athletes showed admirable perseverance and tenacity, and they did not back down, but chose to persevere.
Fu Yuanhui, a famous Chinese swimmer, once suffered a menstrual period in an important competition, and in the face of abdominal pain and fatigue, she did not choose to give up, but insisted on participating, but due to abnormal performance due to abdominal pain, she and the team won the fourth place.
In the post-game interview, Fu Yuanhui said that she was indeed dragging her feet, she was in her menstrual period, and her stomach hurt too much.
Although the performance is abnormal, this perseverance is admirable.
Some people may ask, how did she get into the water to swim without blood when she came to her period?
For female athletes who need to compete in water, tampons can provide reliable protection, which allows female athletes to move freely underwater without worrying about the loss of menstrual blood, thus effectively avoiding the inconvenience and interference caused by menstrual blood when moving underwater.
This is especially important for athletes who need to perform high-intensity exercises in the water, as they need to concentrate on complex technical movements, so they need to minimize the impact of their menstrual periods. However, the use of tampons also requires careful personal hygiene to avoid the risk of infection.
In order to cope with the challenges of the menstrual cycle, some female athletes also choose to take birth control pills in advance.
The main purpose of female athletes choosing to take birth control pills in advance is to delay the arrival of their menstrual period and avoid the discomfort caused by experiencing their menstrual period during competition.
However, taking birth control pills in advance is not a risk-free practice, and improper use of birth control pills may lead to side effects such as irregular menstruation, headaches, nausea, and may even cause long-term effects on the body.
Therefore, when female athletes consider using contraceptive pills to adjust their menstrual cycles, they are all under the guidance of a doctor, and professional doctors will formulate a suitable plan according to their individual circumstances to avoid side effects and adverse consequences.
In addition to the above methods, they also maintain good lifestyle and eating habits for female athletes, which can also help relieve menstrual discomfort and improve overall health.
A regular schedule helps maintain the body's biological clock, reduces the impact of the menstrual cycle, and adequate sleep can help the body recover and regulate, reducing fatigue and discomfort.
In addition, a good diet is also an important factor in relieving menstrual discomfort, female athletes often choose to consume foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, which help regulate endocrine and reduce menstrual symptoms, in addition to potentially avoiding too much caffeine and sugar, which may aggravate menstrual discomfort.
The tenacious will and professionalism of the female athletes in the face of the difficulties brought about by the menstrual cycle, the resilience and perseverance they showed in the competition cannot be described in words, and their efforts deserve our deep respect and recognition.
03
summary
Every athlete, no matter what kind of field, no matter what gender, they are all sweating and working hard to achieve their ideals.
In the arena, despite the stress of training and the discomfort of their menstrual cycles, it is admirable for the tenacity of female athletes to pursue their dreams, to overcome all odds, and to show extreme focus and patience.
Resources
Xinmin Evening News - New Asian Games: Behind the Scenes
Red Star News - Can shaving improve performance?