What caused Olympic athletes and other famous people to be seen with dark red circles on their bodies?

At the Olympics over the years, there have been athletes with dark red circles under their eyes.

People often see these marks on the shoulders and backs of top performers, which has made many people wonder where they came from and what they mean.

The story behind these strange marks shows an interesting mix of an old practice and modern sports recovery.

On July 27, 2024, a grand opening ceremony along the Seine River marked the start of the Paris 2024 Games. About 6,800 athletes from 205 teams took part. The event started with a parade of boats carrying the athletes.

People who have watched the Olympics over the years may have noticed that many of the athletes seem different. People who watch them and their fans are often drawn to the large, dark red circles that are often seen on their bodies.

Fans of athletes and some famous people often have these unique marks on their shoulders, back, and other muscle groups. But what’s the story behind these strange marks?

Wang Qun was getting ready for the Beijing 2008 Olympics when she was photographed by the pool, where water sparkled on her body. She put on a stylish swimsuit with a crisscross pattern on the back that showed off the big red marks on her skin.

She wore swimming goggles and a swim cap that kept her hair in place. She had one hand on her waist and was ready to take another dive into the water.

Michael Phelps was seen having a good time after winning the gold medal in the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. On both sides of his broad shoulders, there were bright red spots that stood out.

In a different picture from the same event, Phelps was celebrating after winning the Men’s 200m Butterfly. There were big red spots on his abs, arms, and shoulders.

He won his 20th Olympic gold medal with this win. As he came out of the water, the most decorated Olympian of all time smiled at the cameras. His red rings stood out against his wet skin.

The distinctive red circles could also be seen as Phelps got ready to swim in a heat of the Men’s 100m Butterfly event. He held his hands together and stood tall, sure of himself and ready.

The striking large red circles that ran across Michael Phelps’ back were seen in a unique overhead shot. He was getting ready to compete in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinal when the picture was taken.

In a cute picture from another time, the red spots on Phelps’ back muscles stood out. He and Conor Dwyer were happy because they had won the gold medal in the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay.

If you look closely at a detailed picture of Phelps’ back, you might think that the large red spots on his skin are bruises. This picture was taken of him while he was swimming in a men’s 200m butterfly heat.

Someone else took a picture of him, Conor Dwyer, Townley Hass, and Ryan Lochte hugging after they won the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final.

In one more picture, the bright red discs really stood out on Phelps’s strong body. He was seen cheering on his teammate during the last leg of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. He had a determined look on his face.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, another athlete, American gymnast Alexander Naddour, had a big red mark that stood out. It was easy to see the mark on his right arm as he got ready to compete on the pommel horse in the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team qualification.

People other than athletes, like Jennifer Aniston, have been seen with dark red circles under their eyes. At the Los Angeles premiere of “Call Me Crazy” in 2013, these marks were seen on Aniston.

That playsuit with no straps showed off the marks on her upper back. It looked like Jennifer tried to hide them with foundation, but the shade was too light and could be seen through the flashes of the paparazzi.

So, the dark red circles around the eyes of Olympic athletes and other famous people are not bruises or body art. They are signs of cupping therapy. This practice is good for you and helps your body recover and stay healthy.