- Fan Ariarne Titmus gets preferential treatment in Paris
- Credited her carefully selected yellow nails as the reason for her success
- Wild theory largely dismissed online, first posted on Reddit
An avid swimming fan has bizarrely suggested that Australian swimming queen Ariarne Titmus has a clear edge over her rivals at the Paris Olympics after she painted her nails yellow.
To the American social news website redditthe supporter asked: ‘how are such fingernails allowed? I’ve seen how close the [Olympic] races have been.’
Next to his strange question was an image of Australian star Titmus with her flashy nails, which were impossible to miss in the La Defense Arena.
Reactions were mixed. One sports fan said Titmus had received preferential treatment.
‘She [fingernails] “They act like paddles and give her an unfair advantage,” one fan argued.
Another posted: ‘I like it…..gold [coloured] to match her medals.’
The general consensus was that Titmus is free to compete with acrylic or gel nails if she wants to. That is not the reason she has already won two gold medals at the Games.
There is also no rule prohibiting athletes from entering the water with painted nails.
An avid swimming fan has bizarrely suggested that Australian swimming queen Ariarne Titmus has a clear lead over her rivals at the Paris Games – after she painted her nails yellow (pictured)
The supporter wondered on the American social news website Reddit: ‘How can such nails be allowed? I’ve seen how exciting the races have been’
This fan felt Titmus was a victim of her own success, saying: ‘You know you’re doing something right when you get accused of cheating’
Titmus was a standout at the Paris Games, where he won the 400m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay and also finished second in the 200m freestyle (photo)
“You know you’re doing good when you’re accused of cheating,” one fan said.
Another spoke for many when they sarcastically responded: ‘Yes, because it’s Ariane’s nails that make the difference… talk about nitpicking.’
Although Titmus behaved heroically in the pool, she was criticised when she criticised the ‘ridiculous’ conditions in the Olympic village.
The 23-year-old didn’t hold back when asked if she was disappointed not to have broken her world record when she won back-to-back gold medals in the 400m freestyle.
“It probably wasn’t the time I thought I could have, but living in the Olympic Village makes it difficult to perform,” she admitted in an interview.
‘It’s certainly not meant for top performances, it’s about who can really keep it together in their mind.’
On Friday evening, Titmus’ mission to once again surprise her American rival Katie Ledecky begins with the heats of the 800-meter freestyle.
The action starts at 7:40pm AEST.