USA Today · Aug 3, 2016
Why female athletes wear makeup at Olympics
Shannon Rowbury will be easy to spot when she takes her mark for the 1,500 meters in Rio. She’ll be the one wearing bright red lipstick.
The color is striking at first. Why would a two-time Olympian wear makeup to run four laps around a track? She’s not the only one. Many female athletes on Team USA glam up their uniform.
U.S. women’s soccer player Ali Krieger calls her mascara “war paint.” U.S. gymnastics captain Aly Raisman says a touch of eyeliner gives her confidence. Rowbury wears a hot pink or deep red lip to honor her late grandmother.
No matter the personal reason, there’s one common theme each woman shares when it comes to putting on their face for the Olympics: self-expression.