Tokyo Olympics: 7 athletes whose habits and hobbies have caught the eye of fans
- Gymnast Sunisa Lee, diver Tom Daley and table tennis star Ma Long are among those who have stories behind the success
- Quirks, superstitions and rituals are common among athletes as they seek to find a routine before gunning for glory
Quirks, unusual habits and rituals are often as much a part of an athlete’s preparations as their training as they look to peak for major events such as the Olympic Games.
At the 2020 Tokyo Games, fans have seen some of the finest physical specimens on earth with nerves of steel perform superhuman feats. They have also seen their normal and vulnerable human side.
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Gold medals galore for China at Olympics as athletes struggle with stifling heat in Tokyo
We so often delight in discovering these idiosyncrasies – fun eccentricities that humanise Olympic athletes and help us find a sense of common ground with them.
Here are seven quirks of rising superstars and the Olympic greats we know and love from the past few weeks.
Sunisa Lee (gymnastics)
Hmong-American teen gymnast Sunisa Lee keeps her leotards in her wardrobe, but there is one bedroom drawer that she scarcely opens, according to Bleacher Report.
It’s the one containing her “unlucky” leotards from unsatisfactory performances in practice or competitions.
