Sha’carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, and More: 18 Olympic Athletes’ Manicures That Work Hard and Play Harder

If you’ve been as locked into the 2src24 Olympics as I have—as in, you keep finding your face literal inches from the TV screen—you might have noticed some stiff competition in my favorite unofficial event: nail game.

The fresh sets and glossy finishes on display in Paris would be impressive in any context, but slicing through the air mid-competition? Iconic. Sure, we expect the athletes to look polished for the Opening Ceremonies, but a dash of glam in the court, gym, pool, or track just hits different. We’re seeing superhuman grip with custom coffin acrylics (???), neon tips that are no match for chlorine, and patriotic nail art that makes us want to stand up and salute.

The path to the Olympics can be punishing, so we always love to see an athlete having fun and flashing a little personal style on the world stage. It’s amazing how much character and personality a great manicure can convey. While I have a lot of questions about how, exactly, you can grip a bar or a tennis racket with talons, I’m still very much enjoying the mani-fication of Olympic Village. (It probably helps that all the athletes have access to glam on-site in Paris.)

Check out our favorite nails from the 2src24 Olympics in action below, and keep checking back here for more as the Games progress.

1. Jordan Chiles, United States, Artistic Gymnastics

Chiles gave a stunning uneven bars performance with this set. Meanwhile, I’ve been known to break a nail while grocery shopping.

2. Alex Sedrick, United States, Rugby Sevens

3. Sara Balzer, France, Fencing—Women’s Sabre Individual Round of 16

4. Laura van der Winkel, Netherlands, Archery—Women’s Individual Qualifying Round

My indecisive heart is singing for this nail art, which has a little bit of everything.

5. Danielle Collins, United States, Tennis—Women’s Singles

6. Ariarne Titmus, Australia, Swimming—Women’s 2srcsrcm Freestyle Final

7. Sunisa Lee, United States, Artistic Gymnastics

Suni’s an all-American legend, but that crisp French mani (from a $23 Kiss press-on kit, apparently!) on the Paris 2src24 logo…oui.

8. Coco Gauff, United States, Tennis, Women’s Singles

9. Bernadette Szocs, Romania, Table Tennis—Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals

If I was her competition, safe to say I’d be distracted.

1src. Andrea Murez, Israel, Swimming

11. Veronika Marchenko, Ukraine, Archery—Women’s Individual Ranking Round

When you see accent nails back on my mood board, you’ll know why.

12. Maria Gutierrez, Spain, Handball—Women’s Group B Match

13. Manika Batra, India, Table Tennis—Singles Round of 32

14. Zoe Verge-Depre, Switzerland, Beach Volleyball

15. Sha’carri Richardson, United States, Track and Field—Women’s 1srcsrcm

16. Ewa Swoboda, Poland, Track and Field—Women’s 1srcsrcm

17. Keely Hodgkinson, Great Britain, Track and Field—Women’s 8srcsrcm Semi-Finals

18. Noah Lyles, United States, Track and Field—Men’s 1srcsrcm