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Every four years, the Summer Olympics shows the world the latest training or recovery method the greatest athletes have taken up. In 2016, many swimmers had red circular marks on their skin from “cupping,” an ancient Chinese practice involving suction on sore muscles and tendons.
This year, the hot thing appears to be tourniquets.
US swimmer Michael Andrew and marathon runner Galen Rupp both use blood flow restriction techniques when training.
Credit:Getty Images
No, there is no outbreak of cuts. But American swimmer Michael Andrew is wearing tourniquet-like bands in the practice pool. Galen Rupp, the defending bronze medallist in the marathon, sometimes straps similar bands to his legs while training.