French swimmer Bouyer’s outfit overshadows Olympic performance
Bouyer's Olympic outfit sparks social media buzz, diverting focus from performance
French swimmer Jules Bouyer has addressed the attention on his outfit during his 2024 Paris Olympics appearance, rather than his diving skills.
Bouyer, 22, hoped social media comments would focus on his technique after reaching the Olympics. Unfortunately, some viewers had other ideas.
He competed at the Paris Aquatics Centre on Friday, 2 August, in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final with Alexi Jandard, finishing fifth. In today’s individual three-metre springboard event, he placed 11th.
However, social media buzz centred on Bouyer’s Olympic attire instead of his performance. One observer noted his ‘Speedo’s working overtime’.
Olympic divers wear minimal swimwear to reduce water drag and splash, aiming for higher scores. Yet, some couldn’t resist pointing out Bouyer’s Speedo’s looked more revealing, with another Twitter user commenting they ‘barely contained his massive Olympic medal’.
Bouyer responded to the attention in an interview, saying it’s ‘their problem’ if ‘some people find it amusing to look at [his] pants’. He found the situation ‘amusing’.
Hunky Paris Olympics diver who went viral for his daring outfit offered lifetime supply of underwear
https://t.co/DwsroY9vvs— Sun Sport (@SunSport) August 3, 2024
“That said, we mustn’t forget that it can take the athlete out of his bubble and that it can hurt,” he added. “That wasn’t the case for me. It was rather fun.”
He concluded, “I prefer people to look at my dives rather than my briefs, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
Bouyer isn’t alone in receiving such scrutiny. Netherlands swimmer Arno Kamminga also faced comments about his trunks online. Italian swimmer Nicolo Martinenghi won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke on Sunday, 28 July, but the design of the Netherlands team’s shorts drew attention, with many questioning their legality.
