An Olympic athlete has disclosed the reason why divers at the games must wear small trunks, a topic that has surprised many viewers due to some revealing details.
The 2024 Paris Olympics is nearing its conclusion, and it has certainly been a memorable event.
One major discussion point has been the athletes’ swimwear, with spectators focusing on some of its more explicit aspects.
Last week, French swimmer Jules Bouyer competed in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final at the Paris Aquatics Centre, and he also participated in the individual three-metre springboard event earlier this week.
Despite Bouyer’s aspirations for a medal, social media users were more intrigued by his choice of swimwear.
For those unfamiliar with diving events, swimwear is generally much tighter than typical Speedos.
Some viewers commented on how Bouyer’s swimwear appeared more revealing, with one Twitter user noting they ‘BARELY contain[ed] his massive Olympic medal’.
This led the Olympian to address the attention he was receiving.
He told Reuters that it’s ‘their problem’ if ‘some people find it amusing to look at [his] pants’ and that ultimately it just ‘amused’ him.
“That said, we mustn’t forget that it can take the athlete out of his bubble and that it can hurt,” he continued. “That wasn’t the case for me. It was rather fun.
“I prefer people to look at my dives rather than my briefs, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
Team GB diver Tom Daley explained in a 2016 interview why swimmers have to wear small trunks.
As expected, the choice of tight trunks isn’t for amusement but serves a specific purpose.
“They have to be small because everything has to stay in place,” Daley revealed on The Graham Norton Show.
“If you’re spinning around the last thing you want to do is have something come out of place. And when you hit the water you don’t want things flapping about because it would hurt,” the diver continued.
Unfortunately, Bouyer isn’t the only one who has been scrutinized on social media, as Dutch swimmer Arno Kamminga has also drawn attention for his swimwear.
The Netherlands team opted for a white-orange design for its swimmers in Paris, but this choice made it difficult to distinguish where the shorts ended and the skin began.
Predictably, social media users were quick to voice their opinions.