Michael Phelps Gets Number 19, Leads Team USA to Victory

08 Aug, 2016

Michael Phelps won a record 19th Olympic gold medal as the United States clinched the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay title in Rio.

The 31-year-old came to Brazil as the most decorated Olympian in history and has now won 23 medals at five Games.

He swam the second leg for the USA, who won in a time of three minutes 9.92 seconds, with France second in 3:10.53 and Australia third in 3:11.37.

Phelps came out of retirement in 2014, having quit after London 2012.He has won twice as many Olympic gold medals as the athlete second on the list, former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.

“On the block, I thought my heart was going to explode,” said the record-breaking American. “I was so hyped, so excited.”

A number of Olympians – including the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps – have been photographed with large red circles on their skin.

What are they, and why is everyone suddenly going dotty over them?

The mark of an Olympic athlete, at least at Rio 2016, seems to be a scattering of perfectly round bruises. Swimmers and gymnasts, particularly from Team USA, are among those seen sporting the mysterious dots.

No, not paintballing misadventures or love bites – they are the result of a practice known as “cupping”; an ancient therapy where heated cups are placed on the skin.

So how is ‘cupping’ done?

The technique, which is a form of acupuncture, is done by lighting flammable liquid in a glass cup.

Once the flame goes out, the drop in temperature creates suction which sticks the cups to the body.

The suction pulls the skin away from the body and promotes blood flow – and leaves those red spots, which typically last for three or four days.

Why are some Olympians using it?

Athletes say they are using it to ease aches and pains, and to help with recovery from the physical toil of constant training and competing.

There are plenty of other recovery techniques competitors use – including sports massage, sauna, ice baths and compression garments – but US gymnast Alex Naddour told USA Today that cupping was “better than any money I’ve spent on anything else”.

BBC

Image TeamUSA

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