Mystery solved: What are gymnasts spraying on the uneven bars?
It’s a question that is often asked each Olympiad: Just what do gymnasts spray on the uneven bars before launching their routine?
Answer: Nothing but simple water.
H2O. Aqua. The wet stuff.
Applying water to the uneven bars might seem a little counterintuitive given that things could get slippery, but it’s actually there to improve a gymnast’s grip on swings, handstands and dismounts.
Most female gymnasts use large amounts of resin mixed with the water, but male gymnasts get more creative in search of the grip needed for the force generated by their bigger bodies. As reported by the Wall Street Journal in 2012, male gymnasts use any number of products from molasses to Karo syrup to even melted gummy bears. And before anyone cries foul, know this: It’s all legal under the rules of international gymnastics, so long as it doesn’t mark up the carpet.
Anyone got any spare caramel?
