The Paris Olympic games are about to end (on Sunday August 11) and to sum up, we’ve witnessed the most powerful athletes in the world race for medals in exciting competitions, iconic fashion moments and also striking beauty looks.
Although many still perceive beauty as something frivolous - especially in a context like the Olympics where performance is the goal - it has played a crucial role in allowing athletes to showcase their individuality, cultural heritage and values to the world.
Vogue/Getty Images
Almost every athlete at the Olympics is expressing creativity through decorative mani, thanks also to the nail bar where athletes can have their nails done with themed manicures. Certainly inspired by Florence Griffith Joyner, AKA Flo-Jo, American track and field athlete and 100m/200m world-record since 1988, proof to the fact that extra-long, fabulous nails don't hold you back from achieving success (and medals).
The gold medal for Olympics 2024 nail art goes to Sha’Carri Richardson (alongside her silver medal in 100m) who wore stunning sets of bejeweled nails during the opening ceremony and during the competition.
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Pool/Getty Images
Another athlete with a passion for nail art is Noah Lyles: for the opening ceremony he wore a white nail-polish with one letter of the word “ICON” on each nail, because ‘his belief is that over his lifespan, he is going to become an icon’ as Lyles stated during an interview.
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Here a gallery of our favorite nail art looks of other athletes like Raven Saunders, Keely Hodgkinson, Alexis Holmes and Jordan Chiles.
Raven Hulk Saunders/Getty Images
nail artist Sylvie Macmillan/Getty Images
Jordan Chiles/Getty Images
Alexis Holmes/Getty Images
Whether colorful, full-on glam or patriotic, Olympic hairstyles caught the attention and sent shockwaves across the Internet, first of all the braids: we are still thinking about Akoko Komlanvi braids inspired by the color of Togo’s flag (matching her nails too) or Trinity Rodman’s extra-long pink braids, the bow on Coco Gauff’s mermaid-inspired hair, and fencing athlete Alice Volpi braids inspired by the Italian flag.
Additionally, the lovely pearls on Noah Lyles hair, Janieve Russell bleached buzz cut with a funny face painted in black, and last but not least, Louie Hinchliffe and Kieran Darren’s mullet haircuts.
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via @indivisa
AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Tooth decorations were also popular among the most stylish sportsmen and sportswomen attending the Paris Olympics, like gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles with their grillz and tooth crystals and judo athlete Shirine Boukli with shiny tooth gems.
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via @shishoouuuu
Last but not least, make-up has always been a way to express creativity and self identity - and sometimes it can also hold a symbolic value. Champions are captured adjusting their make-up just moments before participating in an important competition, like Simone Biles with her Fenty powder and Sunisa Lee retouching her lipstick using Hailey Bieber’s Rhode phone case.
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Other athletes are showing off bold and graphic eye make-up like Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade’s glitter eyeliner and Yaroslava Mahuchikh eyeliner inspired by the colors of Ukrainian flag; also swimmer Florent Manaudou wore shiny crystals around his eyes and track and field athlete Chase Jackson showed a special eye make-up with a butterfly design.
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via @sonyamaleter
Certainly, the most powerful way to use make-up was seen on Palestinian-Italian swimmer Yazan Al Bawwab who had a Palestinian flag painted on his chest demonstrating his solidarity during the genocide in Gaza.
via @yazan_bawwab_oly
Clara Ferrati
Fashion editor and archivist based in Milan currently working as SMM/copywriter; enthusiast about fashion history & trends, music, cinema, social media.
@clarafrt