Why Atheletes Remove Body Hair

Bodybuilders shave their physiques to highlight their muscle definition and size.

Some men and many women shave the hair from their entire bodies as a way of enhancing appearance, especially trim or muscular physiques. But some athletes feel that shaving their bodies also gives them a psychological and physical advantage in competition.

Physique Athletes

Bodybuilders and fitness competitors, both men and women, shave their bodies to show off the maximum amount of physique definition, as well as to highlight the size of their muscles.

Swimmers Set the Pace

In the 1950s, men on the Australian swim team began shaving their legs before competitions, and were able to dramatically improve their racing speeds. As a result, the practice spread around the world, and American swimmers took it a step further by shaving their heads and bodies.

Speed and the Brain

Don Megerle, a swim coach at Tufts University, has observed that shaving body hair with an electric razor makes some swimmers go faster. In addition, in an interview with "Psychology Today" magazine's Brain Sense blog, Megerle said he believes shaving with a blade enhances a swimmer's performance even further. His theory is that when nerve endings all over the body have greater contact with the water, an athlete's senses are stimulated, resulting in more speed.

References

• Bodyshaver.com
• Swimming Aesthetics
• Psychology Today Brain Sense blog

Resources

• Psychology Today Brain Sense blog