Why Do Olympic Swimmers Wear Winter Coats? Explained

The 2024 Paris Olympics is currently in full flow, with its swimming events capturing a big chunk of the views. Most of the underwater competitions have already been completed, while the remaining are currently in their final stages. Nevertheless, the aspect that seems to have attracted the most attention is that of Olympic swimmers wearing winter coats prior to their races. But why did the athletes wear these?

Here are all the details regarding the pre-game coats of swimmers in the 2024 Olympics.

Why do Olympic swimmers wear winter coats?

The Olympic swimmers wear winter coats as a means to prepare for their respective events.

An outfit like this helps swimmers maintain their core temperatures and keep their skin warm prior to swimming. A dedicated warm-up routine is an essential activity for professional athletes. It initiates elevated blood flow and oxygen. This, in turn, allows their bodies to transition into a more proactive state, well-suited for intense contests.

A brief study by the European Journal of Sport Science claims that athletes who wear warm clothes, such as the coats worn by 2024 Olympic swimmers, tend to perform 0.6 percent better than their counterparts. These outfits are generally worn between warm-ups and races.

As evidenced by the competitiveness of the Olympics, the slightest margins can change the course of contests. Consequently, Olympic swimmers are more likely to wear winter coats before they enter the pool.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the renowned Katie Ledecky was spotted wearing a white zip-up jacket before her 400m race. Team USA’s swimmers Caeleb Dressel, Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, and Hunter Armstrong also sported puffer coats prior to their Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final. Notably, they went on to win the gold medal in the aforementioned event.

Conclusively, wearing coats before a race doesn’t guarantee a win for a swimmer. However, from the ongoing pattern, it seems to serve as a tool to bolster their performances.