:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/072524-olympic-beauty-moments-social-758058837f9945379c49fbb2942ce6ca.jpg?w=1500&resize=1500,750&ssl=1 "The Greatest Olympic Beauty Moments of All Time")
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Olympic athletes have reached the great games by dedicating their lives to their art. When they step out on the world stage, they give it their all. AllAnd in addition to showing off their mastery of their sport, some go further with a stunning beauty look.
In a sea of highly regimented uniforms, hairstyles, makeup, or nails can help athletes express their personality and sense of style. Think colorful braids, chic updos, and maximalist manicures.
Below, we’ve rounded up our top nine beauty moments from the Olympics over the years.
Florence Griffith-Joyner
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Florence Griffith-Joyner is known for two things: being the fastest woman in the world and one of the most stylish. She won three gold medals and two silver medals as a track and field sprinter during her Olympic career. As seen in the photo at the top of this post, Griffith-Joyner sported stunning makeup and long, flowing hair. But what really made the cut were her nails. At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, she sported a red, white, blue, and gold (naturally!) manicure complete with gemstones and lots of glitter.
Venus Williams
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Venus Williams rocked a patriotic look during the women’s singles tennis match at the 2012 London Olympics. The tennis star wore shimmering cobalt blue eyeshadow with red, white and blue strands woven into her caramel-colored hair. Williams holds four gold medals and one silver, making her the most decorated tennis player in Olympic history.
Sha’Carri Richardson
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Sha’Carri Richardson made a splash by qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the sixth-fastest woman in the world. A true attention-grabbing star, she sported glossy copper hair and long, voluminous false eyelashes. Although Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympic dreams were derailed after the sprinter tested positive for cannabis shortly after the 2020 trials, she is set to make her Olympic debut at the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Vera Caslavska
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When Czechoslovakian gymnast Vera Caslavska competed in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, her victories went beyond sport. She defeated Soviet gymnasts just months after the Soviet Union invaded her country. Caslavska won four gold medals at the 1968 Games, all while sporting a gravity-defying bun.
Tonya Harding
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Figure skaters are restricted in their hairstyles for safety reasons. It is best to pull them back, away from the face, as loose strands or any adornments can obscure vision. Skaters often sport formal looks such as slicked-back buns. For example, for Tonya Harding at the 1994 Winter Olympics, a bright red scrunchie at the base of a French braid exuded confidence in her laid-back nature. The Games ended before the public learned that Harding was under investigation for a pre-Olympic assault on Nancy Kerrigan, her figure skating rival. Later that year, Harding pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Translation: She knew who committed the crime but did not notify authorities.
Wilma Rudolph
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At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single event. At the time, she was the fastest woman in the world, a feat that was especially significant because she achieved it after beating polio as a child. Rudolph dazzled with her short haircut, and in this photo, she wore it with a chic headscarf.
Naomi Osaka
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Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with bright red braids. Osaka is a successful tennis star, having won the 2018 US Open, 2019 Australian Open, 2020 US Open, and 2021 Australian Open. This year’s Games in Paris will be her second Olympic appearance.
Nickiesha Wilson
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When Jamaican hurdler Nickiesha Wilson competed at the 2012 London Olympics, she did so with the Olympic symbol shaved into the side of her head. Her look is bold and embodies the Olympic energy within her.
Simone Biles
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Of all the Olympic athletes, gymnasts have the most fun with their makeup. Just look at Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history. At her first Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, she let her eyes do the talking with black wings and silver glitter. She’s set to return for her third Olympics in Paris.
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