This year’s Olympics might possibly be one that’s hard to forget, and it’s all because of some unusual, funny and quirky happenings that have taken place in Rio in the first week alone.
Here are five things about the sports event you may have missed.
1. A blue-coloured pool of water that turned murky green
During the women’s 10m synchronised diving final on Tuesday (Aug 9), the blue pool at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre turned into a “green abyss” as competitors progressed through their dives. Just a day before on Monday (Aug 8), Telegraph reported that the pool was still blue for the men’s event of the same category and only turned to a murky green the next day.
Ermmm…what happened?! pic.twitter.com/pdta7EpP2k
— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 9, 2016
But, there’s nothing to wory about, apparently. A spokesman for the Rio 2016 organisers said that the committee is investigating the situation and assured that the pool isn’t “toxic or dirty”.
2. Why athletes have red circular spots on their bodies
If you’ve caught some of the events, you might have noticed that some athletes like US swimmer Michael Phelps and gymnast Alexander Naddour have circular red spots on parts of their body. No, they didn’t get beaten up or contract a strange disease.
The marks are simply due to a traditional Chinese medicine technique known as cupping, which originated from China about 3,000 years ago. Cupping involves heating suction cups and placing them on parts of the body which are sore, in order to improve blood flow. It eventually leaves red marks on the skin but thankfully, they aren’t permanent.
Nonetheless, it sure looked like Phelps fell asleep on his multiple medals.
3. The Internet sensation who didn’t know she won the bronze medal
If there was a medal for the ability to contort one’s face, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui, 20, would win gold.
But what she did win was the bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke final on Monday (Aug 8), even though she only found out much later.
In a post-event interview with a reporter, Fu was told that she clocked 58.95 seconds in her event. She said: “I thought I did 59 seconds! Wow! I was so fast! I am very satisfied!”
She also claimed that she had “prehistoric powers” which helped her in her events. Well, maybe she was channeling the tenacity of a megalodon or the slickness of a plesiosaur.
In any case, these powers sure helped her become an overnight Internet meme.
4. Accidental porn stars and unfortunate censors
Some athletes fell victim to an accidental error of having info-bars on TV broadcasts placed right below their bellies which made them look naked on screen.
It’s so weird for these Olympic divers to dive in the nude. Bravo to NBC figuring out a way to censor the nudity. pic.twitter.com/bisSgDZtsw
— Sean (@Seanye_West_32) August 9, 2016
Great Britain’s Tom Daley and USA’s Steele Johnson were part of the unfortunate “accident” that inadvertently censored their swimming trunks, making them the centre of jokes trending on Twitter.
Best part of the #Olympics #Diving?
When the information bar makes them look naked:#Rio2016 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/36E7E1HBcq— Adam R (@MrAdamR) August 8, 2016
Future Olympic committees might want to review info-bars placements so viewers don’t get all jittery over nothing. Maybe make the info-bars see-through?
5. The 2 sensational Filippino divers who are greatly missed
In case you forgot, these two divers from the Philippines made headlines during the Southeast Asian Games last year for all the wrong reasons.
The Filipino National Diving Team Is AWFUL at diving pic.twitter.com/xYzdMREtg5
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) August 8, 2016
John Elmerson Fabriga and John David Pahoyo were captured TV cameras for their atrocious backflips which landed them a grand total of zero points from all seven judges.
The duo were named the “favourite team” in Rio this year despite their non-appearance, reported Telegraph.
Looks like athletes don’t need to be at the Olympics to be famous in Rio.
stephluo@sph.com.sg
AFP, Reuters, The Straits Times
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