‘Look good, feel good’ is an adage we’re all familiar with. Getting our hair done can feel transformative, and a fresh manicure can make us feel like we truly have our lives together. It appears that’s also the case for Olympians, who aren’t foregoing their beauty routines at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes are proving (one manicure at a time) that self-care rituals don’t need to stop when we’re at our busiest.
At the Olympics, there are certain rules that athletes must adhere to. Whether it’s having their nails a certain length in team sports, hair slicked back and out of the way, or wearing team-issued uniforms around the village and when competing in events. chic
We’re not Olympians, but we can imagine that having most outlets for self-expression stripped away when you need to perform at your peak can be a little… uninspiring.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, athletes are proving that there are still plenty of options for expressing their personalities and team pride when competing. Specifically, athletes from around the globe have shown up in Paris sporting nail art and expertly painted manicures that are worthy of a gold medal in their own right.
This isn’t exactly a new phenomenon at the Olympics. Athletes have been using nail art as a means of self-expression for years. Nail art has come a long way in recent years, but I still have vivid memories of clocking athletes’ nail art designs from over a decade ago. One name that comes to mind instantly is Australian swimming legend, Leisel Jones, who was virtually never seen without green and gold-painted nails.
Thankfully, nail art isn’t confined to the pools in Paris. In the past week, we’ve seen gymnasts and track stars, in particular, emerge as the nail art queens of the Olympics. Keep on scrolling to see a few of our favourites.
Brianna Throssell
Australian swimmer Brianna Throssell opted for a green and gold double French manicure for the Paris Games.
Sunisa Lee
Sunisa Lee’s almond-shaped French manicure is a masterclass in subtle perfection.
Sha’Carri
Long gel nails with intricate nail art have become Sha’Carri Richardson’s signature. We particularly love the glued-on 3D gems in her 2024 Olympics set.
Taliqua Clancy
Taliqua Clancy, a Wulli Wulli-Goreng Goreng person and Aussie volleyball player, paid homage to the Aboriginal flag with their Olympic set.
Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox showed off an asymmetric green French manicure while holding her newly minted gold medal.
Team GB has emerged as the team with the most graphic nail art looks at this Olympics. We love how the Team GB colours have been rethought in these more muted, geometric designs.
This nail art set mimics the wavy Team GB logo, with some glitter for good measure.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles took her TikTok followers along on her pre-Olympics beauty prep and these 3D French tips were immediately saved to our manicure inspiration folders.
Jordan Chiles
Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles never disappoints with her manicures. In Paris, she is wearing square gel tips with what appears to be a blooming gel design. Paying homage to her team colours, she has one hand-painted red and the other blue.
Joscelyn Roberson
In case you haven’t noticed, the Team USA gymnastics team might just be best in field for manicures this Games. Joscelyn Roberson opted for a classic French manicure with organic-shaped accents in varying colours on each nail.
