Athletes in every sport have certain idiosyncrasies, superstitions, and traditions. These acts of hope, faith and preparedness are conducted on bats, rackets, balls, gloves, sticks, helmets, pads, shoes, headbands, shorts, shirts, belts, hats, glasses, visors, towels, and uniforms.
But how many athletes literally spit and use their tongue to prepare?
Swimmers and triathlete do it for sure, all the time.
It is swimmers of all ages and abilities who stick their tongue in their equipment of choice – goggles – to clear them out of any residue and fog. A little spittle here, a little saliva there, and the vision by swimmers through their goggles is improved.
Some athletes use commercial de-fogging solutions, some use mild babies shampoo, other use towels, shirts and tongues.
However it works, swimmers will always revert to the tried and true method of clearing out the fog in the goggles.
Photo shows professional marathon swimmer Andrea Volpini of Italy on the shores of Cozumel getting ready for a 15 km marathon race.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.