Those Deep Purple Bruises On Michael Phelps' Body? You Should Get It, Too
The world waited to see the most decorated Olympian Michael Phelps and the rest of the USA Olympic team arrive in Rio de Janeiro. But when Phelps and the rest of the US Olympic swimmers geared up for battle, something very odd on their bodies: round circles. Michael Phelps made his Rio Olympics debut on Sunday at the 4x100-meter freestyle where he, alongside Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held and Nathan Adrian, America's best sprinter, captured a gold medal.
You wouldn't need to have an eagle-like eye to notice the circular marks on Phelps' back as he exited the pool. They're not a result of a tattoo mishap or a secret symbol only known to members of the US Olympic swim team. According to The Washington Post, the circles came from cupping, a technique used by trainers who attach suction cups to pull blood to sore and injured areas to speed healing.
In a recent Under Armour video, Phelps was seen getting the treatment as he has been doing for years. Last year, he also posted a picture on the photo sharing app, Instagram, showing fellow Olympian Allison Schmitt doing the treatment for him which he captioned, "Thanks for my cupping today!"
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