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When the world’s greatest athletes gather for a chance at glory every two years, all Olympians must play by the rules—even if some of them seem a little strange. Some of the regulations range from what kind of clothing or aesthetic an athlete must have to general behavior restrictions.
The summer and winter Olympic Games feature some of the most unifying, heartwarming moments in sports. But it’s not all fun and games (no pun intended). Even when athletes might find a rule unfair, once a rule is broken—depending on the infraction—the consequences can cost them hard-to-earn points or even their chance of continuing their bid for Olympic glory.
Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira, 22, was sent home from the 2024 Paris Games after being caught leaving the Olympic Village without authorization with another teammate, Gabriel Santos, following the Opening Ceremony on July 26.
After being reprimanded, Vieira reacted to the “technical decision” made by the committee in a “disrespectful and aggressive” manner, according to the COB. Consequently, she was sent home.
To get a better understanding of the Games, here’s a look into the rulebook for some of the lesser-known and unusual rules for the Olympic Games.
Divers Must Be Confident
According to World Aquatics’ competition regulations, a failure to reach full extension—a.k.a. a ‘bold, high, and confident take-off’ before their dive—can cause a deduction of between ½ and 2 points.
Figure Skating
There is no set uniform for figure skaters, but there are strict rules. Trousers are a dress code requirement for men, whereas women are allowed to wear a variety of costumes, including trousers, leggings, skirts, dresses, and unitards. According to the International Skating Union (ISU), ‘clothing cannot give the effect of excessive nudity.’ This is why you might see so many flesh-toned panels—to give the illusion of skin.
Not only does it matter what they wear, but figure skaters are also not allowed to do backflips. Doing a backflip in a figure skating routine is considered an “illegal figure skating move” by the International Skating Union. The reason is that the landing is made on two feet instead of one and is not considered a “real jump.”
Skater Surya Bonaly landed a backflip on one foot at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, but because the move was considered illegal, she finished in 10th place.
Water Polo
In this tough sport, there’s no excessive force—and that includes groin grabbing. Additionally, to prevent any disadvantages, water polo athletes are forbidden from having ‘grease, oil, or any similar substance on the body’ during competition.
Water polo athletes also have to clip their toenails to avoid nasty scratches underwater.
BMX racers have to wear loose, fitted long-sleeved jerseys that come down to the waist and must be tucked in. Lycra is also not allowed, and long trousers must be worn in case of a crash. For BMX freestyle, the rules—and clothing—are looser. While tucking in is not mandatory, the primary focus of attire regulations is on safety and functionality, and jerseys are typically form-fitting.
Olympic runners who choose to hold hands at the finish line are disqualified due to a rule that says you can’t have a contrived tie.
