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2016 olympics
August 10, 2016

All of the Beautiful Twists and Braids at the Olympics

By Chaédria LaBouvier

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Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, home to the 2016 Olympic Games and one of the most humid places on the face of the planet. Next week alone, the humidity index will hover around 70 percent. In that type of weather, a blowout is a joke. But braids? There’s nothing better. French braids, twists, cornrows, and box braids seem to be the go-to styles for many American Olympians in their quest for the gold. Between Michael Tinsley’s sexy French braids and Allyson Felix’s long box braids, America’s finest are battling the Brazilian humidity as effortlessly as they are winning medals.

Looking at the athletes, you can’t help but think of the late, great Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith-Joyner. The track star — who set a world record at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in acrylic nails and waist-length hair — left two legacies: her nearly impossible to beat times, and her never-shy style, which future generations of Olympians have eagerly embraced. If these athletes are any measure, Flo-Jo’s “get golds, stay golden” aesthetic lives on.

See the best looks in the slideshow below.

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1 / 17 Photos
Victoria Folayan, Rugby  The Technicolor glow-up. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
Kendrick Farris, Weightlifting  Loc’d and loaded. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/4derrick
Allyson Felix, Track & Field Brandy circa '97, watch out. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/af85
Courtney Okolo, Track & Field Keep it coiled, keep it cute.  Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/courtneyokolo
Brittney Griner, Basketball Locs, stock, 'n' braids.  Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/brittneygriner
Brittney Reese, Track & Field Coiled and poised. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/daljbeast
Jason Pryor, Fencing En garde! Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images
Felisha Johnson, Track & Field Locs to love about this one.  Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/fefe_j247
Seimone Augustus, Basketball  Braids in formation. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/moneymone33
Kendall Williams, Track & Field Braids, coils, and cornrows, oh my! Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/kdubb_100
Keturah Orji, Track & Field  Braids that go swoosh with the wind. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/monicacabbler
Michael Tinsley, Track & Field Braid x Beard; flourishing. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/mrtinsley1
Tamika Catchings, Basketball Classic braids for the elder stateswoman of Team USA basketball. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Tina Charles, Basketball Braided bae, slayer of basketball nets. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/tina31charles
Serena Williams, Tennis When braids are a crown, but not a crown braid. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/serenawilliams
Amber Campbell, Track and Field  Selfie braids. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/usahammerhottie
Venus Williams, Tennis Braids of fire. Just call her Khaleesi. Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/venuswilliams
1 / 17

Tags:

  • beauty
  • braids
  • hair
  • 2016 olympics

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