While you’re busy cheering for your favorite teams and sports, these are some of the hidden details in Olympic athletes’ outfits you may have missed.
- The U.S. women’s gymnastics team’s blue leotards contain a nod to American history – The blue leotards worn for the qualification event displayed 76 stars in honor of America winning its independence in 1776.
- Their leotards worn for the women’s all-around team final feature 76-hundred Swarovski crystals – In another reference to 1776, the women’s gymnastics team’s patriotic red, white and blue leotards shimmer with 76-hundred crystals.
- The Dutch women’s gymnastics team’s leotards feature Japanese writing – As a tribute to the host country of the Olympics, the team’s black, white and orange uniforms have the Japanese word for the Netherlands written across the front.
- Germany’s men’s basketball head coach also wore Japanese writing – Coach Henrik Rodl of Team Germany sported a shirt featuring the Japanese word for Germany on the front.
- Jayson Tatum of the U.S. men’s basketball team wore Kobe Bryant’s jersey number – Tatum’s jersey number is 10, as a tribute to his favorite player, Bryant, who also wore that number when he helped win gold medals for Team USA at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. “With this being the first Olympics since we lost him, it holds that much more value,” Tatum explains. “It’s not something I take lightly.”
- Russia’s Olympic uniforms aren’t allowed to display the Russian flag – Because of sanctions imposed after a doping scandal, Russian athletes can’t wear the Russian flag or hear their national anthem at medal ceremonies. Their uniforms feature the Olympic logo with Russia’s colors instead.
- Team Australia’s suit jackets honor every past gold medalist from the country – The suit jackets worn by athletes from Australia at the opening ceremony were lined with the names of all 320 Australian Olympic gold medalists.
Source: Insider
