Why do swimmers wear jackets before the race?

THE Paris 2024 Olympics is well underway – as fans tune in to the 19-day sporting spectacle.

Spectators of the swimming are wondering why competitors are wearing big winter jackets before they take to the water – SunSport has the reason why.

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Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE

Why do swimmers wear jackets before the race?

The jacket is, in fact, a crucial item in a swimmer’s warm-up routine before they hit the water.

The warmth generated from the jacket leads to looser muscles, which can translate to cleaner strokes and, ultimately, a faster time.

Muscles that aren’t warmed up can feel heavy and stiff in the water, which can negatively impact a swimmer’s performance.

The jacket is a fleece-lined, zip-up with a hood that is often referred to as a parka in the swimming community.

Most parkas run down beneath the athlete’s knees, while some opt to wear the jackets all the way down to their calves.

Swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Here are all the remaining swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics:

All times BST

Monday, July 29

10am – 12pm

Women’s 400m Individual Medley Heats

Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats

Men’s 800m Freestyle Heats

Evening

19:30 Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final

19:40 Men’s 200m Freestyle Final

19:57 Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals

20:19 Men’s 100m Backstroke Final

20:25 Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final

20:41 Women’s 200m Freestyle Final

Tuesday, July 30

10am – 12pm

Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats

Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats

Women’s 1500m Freestyle Heats

Women’s 100m Freestyle Heats

Men’s 200m Breaststroke Heats

Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Heats

Evening

19:30 Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals

19:42 Men’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals

19:56 Women’s 100m Backstroke Final

20:02 Men’s 800m Freestyle Final

20:25 Women’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals

20:47 Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals

21:01 Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final

Wednesday, July 31

10am – 12pm

Women’s 200m Breaststroke Heats

Men’s 200m Backstroke Heats

Women’s 200m Butterfly Heats

Evening

19:30 Women’s 100m Freestyle Final

19:36 Men’s 200m Butterfly Final

19:43 Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals

20:07 Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final

20:37 Men’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals

20:51 Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals

21:15 Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final

21:22 Men’s 100m Freestyle Final

Thursday, August 1

10am – 12pm

Women’s 200m Backstroke Heats

Men’s 50m Freestyle Heats

Men’s 200m Individual Medley Heats

Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Heats

Evening

19:30 Women’s 200m Butterfly Final

19:37 Men’s 200m Backstroke Final

19:44 Men’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals

20:04 Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final

20:11 Women’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals

20:35 Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals

20:49 Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final

Friday, August 2

10am – 12pm

Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats

Women’s 200m Individual Medley Heats

Women’s 800m Freestyle Heats

Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats

Evening

19:30 Men’s 50m Freestyle Final

19:36 Women’s 200m Backstroke Final

19:43 Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final

20:00 Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinals

20:22 Women’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals

Saturday, August 3

10am – 12pm

Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats

Men’s 1500m Freestyle Heats

Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats

Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Heats

Evening

19:30 Men’s 100m Butterfly Final

19:37 Women’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals

20:01 Women’s 200m Individual Medley Fina

20:08 Women’s 800m Freestyle Final

20:34 Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final

Sunday, August 4

17:30 Women’s 50m Freestyle Final

17:36 Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final