PARKAS AND REGAN SMITH'S MITTENS: WHY OLYMPIC SWIMMERS DRESS WARM BEFORE RACES

    

USA before the women's 100m backstroke final at the Paris La Défense Arena during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

  

While it might make sense for Keaton Jones, an ice swimming world champion, to come out in a snowsuit before his race out of habit, but why do other swimmers wear those large coats? And why does the world record holder Regan Smith wear mittens? As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games continue, let’s address a question that’s been on many people’s minds: why do swimmers dress like that? Is the air really that cold?

In the swimming world, athletes refer to these large coats as parkas. Swimmers strive to keep their muscles warm and loose, especially after warming up in the pool. This helps improve their range of motion, reduces the risk of injury and maintains their core body temperature while increasing blood flow. Overall, these benefits can help improve swimming performance.

According to the European Journal of Sport Science, a study concluded that “Wearing warm clothing during a 30-min transition phase improved swimming performance by 0.6%, compared to limited clothing.” The study involved nine competitive swimmers and included a week of rest before changing conditions.

Psychological readiness is also crucial. Swimmers might listen to music, slap their muscles to increase blood flow, wear their cap and goggles, swing their arms and jump up and down. Climbing out of the water after warmups and sitting around cold is probably at the bottom of a swimmer’s list of preferred preparations.

Regan Smith, 22, is from Minnesota and currently trains under Bob Bowman, who is known for coaching Michael Phelps. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Smith won silver medals in both the 200 butterfly and the 4x100 medley relay. In a medley relay, each swimmer competes in a different stroke in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Smith also earned a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke.

At the 2024 Olympic Trials, Smith set a world record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.13. She also won first place in three events: the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly. Additionally, Smith has earned five gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze at various World Championships.

So far in Paris, she has secured silver medals in both the 100 backstroke and 200 butterfly, with her time in the 200 butterfly setting a new American record of 2:03.84. Still to come, Smith will compete in the 200 backstroke final later today.

Smith is often seen wearing a parka and even pink mittens before her races to keep warm. If a world record holder like her follows this routine, it’s no surprise that many other swimmers do the same.

- Casey Murphy