When watching the olympics, I couldn't help but notice the stubble on Michael Phelp's chin after one of his races (don't remember which one). After that I couldn't help noticing full haired Olympians were the norm more than the exception, and noteably Aaron Piersol(sp?) had tufts of hair sticking out of the back of his cap...
After years of enduring hairlessness, is convention wisdom that this process is no longer neccessary?!
Former Member
I did notice one or two with stubble on the face and the hair poking out the back; however, almost all were shaved down (i.e., legs, chest, arms. I did wonder though, if hundreths of a second are so critical and if being hairless does make a difference, wouldn't the top swimmers want that stubble off their face. Of course, I understand in prelims a Phelps need not completely shave down because he'll make finals no matter.
Hi all,
I've never shaved my face off before a meet... having that "shave-down" feeling on my face was always very distracting. Having it on the rest of the body, naturally, was a help. :)
I have to agree with everyone else on the hair thing... I always shaved my head or at least wore it short enough that a cap would take care of any hair issues.
