The Olympic manicures that have both style and substance

Known for her dramatic nails, American track and field athlete Sha’carri Richardson always has a manicure as spectacular as her performance.

British gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson’s regal purple nails were the result of a collaboration with Nike, nail artist Sylvie Macmillan told Elle, explaining that “they feature motifs based around the Greek goddess of victory”.

Team GB’s divers Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen always sport matching nails for competitions, telling the BBC that it’s their “thing”, and adding that they count their nail art as a good luck charm.

Colombian swimmer Stefania Gomez Hurtado incorporated multiple Paris Olympic Games symbols in her mani, including the 2024 mascot, Phryge, which reflects the history and revolutionary spirit of France.

American sprinting superstar Noah Lyles – now officially the fastest man in the world – is another Olympian known for his love of nail art. Whether patriotic or symbolic of his ambition, his nails continue to deconstruct antiquated gender norms with each competition.

Showcasing his ‘ICON’ design at a press conference in Paris, Lyles spoke out about the perception of his nail art as conceited. “The most misunderstood thing is the balance between cocky and confident,” he said. “There is a strong line that people assume my confidence is cockiness.”

French fencer Sara Balzer showcased the perfect Parisian nail art, complete with flag stripes and Olympic rings.

In a similar vein – while reflecting her Italian nationality – fencer Alberta Santuccio showcased Olympic rings and her country’s flag.

Swiss beach volleyball player Zoé Vergé-Dépré opted for a more subtle – while still literal – representation of the competition.

For an American take on the ‘French manicure’, track and field athlete Alexis Holmes played up patriotic nails with fun accents, from floral motifs to stripes, stars and dots.