Behold: 43 Weird and Obscure Rules That Olympic Athletes Must Follow
Behold: 43 Weird and Obscure Rules That Olympic Athletes Must Follow
Every two years, the world's greatest athletes gather for a chance at glory. The summer and winter Olympic games feature some of the most unifying, heartwarming moments in sport. But it's not all fun and games (no pun intended). When it comes to conduct on and off the field, there are Olympic rules athletes have to follow, and some are next level obscure.
Boxers must be clean shaven.
Competitors in the boxing competition must be clean shaven or have limited facial hair. That pencil mustache is a-go.
Track and field athletes don't have to wear shoes.
While shoes are almost always wore by athletes competing in track and field events, they're not required. But there are rules about the shoes.
Gymnasts can't wear colorful nail polish.
While gymnasts can wear colorful makeup, bright nail polish is a no-go. It's either neutral or none at all for these athletes.
Olympic athletes are not allowed any form of protest while on the medals podium.
Athletes used to not be allowed to express any form of protest on the field of play, in the Village, during ceremonies, or at the opening and closing ceremonies. After facing significant pushback, the rule was altered slightly in 2021, stating some demonstrations are allowed “prior to the start of competitions” and not on the podium. The change also gives the agencies from each country that run the sports the decision of whether or not to enforce the bans.
Athletes can have endorsements. They just can't talk about them.
When it comes to endorsements, athletes can have them and get paid for them. However, during the games, the athlete can't mention them, and the company can't promote the athlete either.
Pants are a must for men's skating.
While you may think male figure skaters could wear tight a la dancers, that's not the case. Trousers are a dress code requirement.
Women's figure skaters must wear skirts.
While men have to wear pants, ladies aren't allowed. Even if they're simple and sheer, a skirt is required.
Skeleton competitors don't need to stay on the sled.
In the sport of skeleton — in which athletes race down an icy hill head first on a sled — the athletes are allowed to get off the sled. Competitors can push it or move it, as long as they're back on the sled once they cross the finish line.
Some athletes can't drink.
Per the International Olympic Committee, drinking is allowed. Athletes can even bring in their own alcohol to the Village. However, some athletes have no drinking rules imposed by their country. For the USA's athletes there's no booze in the Village but outside, it's fair game.
Athletes can't post photos of the field or backstage to social media.
While athletes can use and post to social media during the games, there are restrictions. Images and video showing the field of play or backstage areas like athlete and coach only ares are off limits.
BMX riders must tuck in their shirts.
BMX athletes are required to tuck in their shirts — even if it is to matching pants.
No backflips allowed in figure skating.
While cool, back flips aren't allowed in figure skating because of the two-foot landing that discounts it as a "jump." That didn't stop 1998 competitor Surya Bonaly from nailing one for fans, though.
Those who swing second in hockey fights get less penalty time.
While fights are rare in Olympic hockey, athletes don't want to start one, but they may want to finish it. While instigators get five minutes in the penalty box, those who drop the gloves second only get two.
Basketball players can dunk but can't hang on to the hoop.
Dunking is allowed in Olympic basketball. However, players aren't allowed to hang onto the hoop after doing so.
Swimming world records must be faxed in by athletes.
If a swimmer sets a world record, it's not automatically recorded. Athletes have to fax in their record. Yes, fax.
Fencers can't leave the field of play or they forfeit.
This may not seem odd, but it is. If a challenge or appeal is wanted during a match, the athlete cannot leave the piste or field or play. In 2012 South Korea challenged a call, and fencer Shin A-lam was forced to stay on the piste for nearly an hour before a decision was made.
Wrestlers must carry a handkerchief.
Olympic wrestlers have to cary a hanky somewhere in their uniform called a "bloodrag." Yes, it is used to clean up any bleeding from competition.
Olympic swimmers can grease themselves — but not too much.
To avoid chafing, swimmers can grease their elbows and inner thighs, but they can't use too much.
Water polo players have their toenails checked before competition.
Water polo athletes have to clip their toenails in order to avoid some nasty scratches under water.
No smoking in the Olympic Village.
There's no smoking throughout most of the Olympic Village, but there are designated areas for those who choose to do so.
Only one piece of handheld food can be taken from the Olympic Village food court.
An apple? Yes. An apple and a to-go tray? Not so much. Only one hand-held item or one beverage can be removed from the Olympic Village food court.
Mealtime during COVID-19 came with a new set of rules.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponed Tokyo Olympics looked a little different for athletes. Australian water polo player Tilly Kearns posted a TikTok showing how mealtime worked: Sanitizer, gloves, plastic dividers, and a "10-minute rule" to eat kept the competitors as safe as possible.
Beach volleyball bikinis must be a certain size.
While there are no options beyond the bikini, if beach volleyball players choose to wear one, the sides of the bottom can't be any wider than 7 centimeters.
Snowboarders must spin in two different directions.
Big Air Snowboarding — a.k.a. doing death-defying jumps and flips from an extremely high height — first became an Olympic sport in 2018. If you want to compete, it's not going to be easy. Athletes get three runs to flip their way onto the Olympic podium, but must spin in two different directions on their two winning attempts to qualify.
No scoop or v-neck leotards for gymnasts.
Gymnasts' uniforms are strictly regulated, and scoop or v-necks that extend beyond the mid-sternum aren't allowed.
Clean hair is a must for karate competitors.
Lather up that shampoo, because karate referees can disqualify an athlete if they deem their hair does not appear clean enough.
No groin grabbing allowed.
Water polo is a tough sport, but there's no excessive force — and that includes groin grabbing.
Lost props stay lost in rhythmic gymnastics.
Throw that hoop or ribbon too high in rhythmic gymnastics, and that's too bad. Props can't be retrieved during a routine, and athletes must keep going without them — even if their hoop is in a rafter.
A coin toss determines the color of beach volleyball uniforms.
If teams show up in the same color, a coin toss gets to decide who has to change.
Olympic gymnasts have to pay for a scoring challenge.
If a team believes a score is unfair, gymnasts have to pay $300 to have it re-evaluated. If the challenge overturns scoring, the team gets their money back. If it's not, the cash goes to charity.
Cyclists' socks can only go to mid-calf.
When it comes to Olympic cycling, there's also a strange uniform rule. Socks can't be higher than mid-calf, and they are measured.
No hand-holding finishes.
Olympic runners who choose to hold hands at the finish line are disqualified due to a rule that says you can't have a contrived tie.
No excess nudity for figure skaters.
Figure skaters don't have a set uniform, but there are major rules. One of them is that there can be no excessive nudity. That's exactly why you see so flesh-toned panels — to give the illusion of skin without breaking rules.
Golfers must sign their score cards.
If an Olympic golfer doesn't sign their score card, they are disqualified even if they won.
Divers must be bold and confident on the board.
According to the United States Olympic rulebook, a failure to reach full extension — a.k.a. a bold, high, and confident take-off before their dive — can cause up to a 2 ? point deduction.
You must make all the gates in the canoe slalom.
Who knew canoe racing, better known as the slalom, was so cutthroat? The rules state that if an athlete misses one of the 18-25 gates on the course, they are given a 50-second penalty on their final time.
Equestrians can't use their voices during competition.
They can't even click their tongues to control their horse. This rule was enforced at the 1932 Olympics when a Swedish equestrian was demoted to last place for making a clicking sound — even though he claimed it was just his saddle.
Archers only have 40 seconds to shoot.
Per the rulebook, Olympic archers only get 40 seconds between shots — no pressure, right? It's not like there's anything on the line...just an Olympic medal.
All tennis matches are played on hard courts.
The standard surface for an Olympic event in tennis is a hard court and all players must be prepared to play on it. This is unlike other professional tournaments, like Wimbledon or the French Open, which are played on grass and clay.
Water polo players can't grease up beforehand.
In a bid to prevent any disadvantages, water polo athletes are forbidden from having "grease, oil, or any similar substance on the body" during competition.
Shoes aren't required in beach volleyball.
Most beach volleyball athletes prefer to go barefoot during competition in order to help with their mobility in the sand. Lucky for them, there's no mandatory policy for athletes to wear footwear during matches at the Olympics.
Shooters can't remove their rifles from the firing lane.
Per the USA shooting rifle rules, a rifle can't leave the firing lane during the event, unless it has been approved by the referees.
Open water swimmers aren't allowed to wear wet suits.
This is a relatively recent rule. Basically, if a body of water is above 20 degrees celsius, wet suits are a no-go. But if the water temperature drops below 16 degrees celsius, swimmers are required to wear a wet suit.
Olympians must follow strict rules when competing in sports like gymnastics, hockey, track and field, wrestling, and swimming. These are some of the most obscure.