Rio 2016: Bizarre pre-race rituals of Olympic swimming stars

Santo Condorelli, whose middle finger pre-race ritual has made him a sensation at Rio 2016

Sarah Sjostrom

Sweden’s star swimmer who has already won a gold, a silver and a bronze at Rio, is in the habit of pouring a bottle of water on herself before each race, before stepping on to the board.

Katie Ledecky’s number one threat in the pool, Sjostrom acclimatises herself for a second time after the showers and before the race by upending a bottle on her cap.

Her rituals have certainly been paying off, as she is the new world record holder for the women’s 100 meter butterfly, becoming Sweden’s very first female Olympic gold medallist.

Edited by Staff Editor