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The Art and Science of Swimmers Shaving Their Entire Bodies

Related Topics: Omaha, Kevin Cordes, Elizabeth Beisel

OMAHA, Neb. — Kevin Cordes arrived here this week looking like the GEICO caveman—a bushy head of hair, thick beard, plenty of fur on the rest of his body. By Sunday morning, the 2016 Olympian will be nearly hairless.

The process starts with the electric clippers. Then he’ll go through four razors. And there will be a back shave from a friend. That’s the 75-minute deforestation process Cordes will navigate before he dives into the pool in the 100-meter breaststroke Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

When you’re trying to get to Tokyo, every hundredth of a second—and thus, every friction-inducing hair follicle—can matter.