And you think Italian restaurants do big business when swim meets are town…it’s become ritualistic for female swimmers to get their nails done as a means of relaxing on the day before a big meet, and these colors have gotten more-and-more outrageous over the years. This week, SwimSwam’s Janna Schulze has been documenting some of the nails that have been hanging around on deck. ‘Party nails,” where all of the nails are a certain color save for one (usually the ring finger) seem to have taken over, but what’s clear is that “nude” or “clear” shades are out in NCAA swimming – much too dull for a meet this exciting.
Missy Franklin went with black and a spot of silver to match her race cap. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Florida sophomore sprint star Natalie Hinds prepares for a relay start with some fiece-looking white fingernails. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Lia Neal of Stanford has yellow nails as she hugs Missy Franklin after the 400 medley relay. Don’t worry though, That’s definitely not “Cal” yellow. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Alex Sellers, University of Louisville, is fierce in hot pink nails as she prepares for her race. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Minnesota fans get in on the action with bright orange nails that stand out in the crowd… as if the gopher heads weren’t enough! (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Claire Brandt, Texas A&M, flashes a shiny gold party nail against contrasting turquoise. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Tennessee junior Cherelle Thompson is sporting Volunteer orange nails with silver accent nails on either hand. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Lily Moldenhauer has opted to match her blue Arena suit rather than her black and orange Texas cap.
UCLA’s caps may be more of a royal blue, but their fingernails are sporting that baby blue. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Maddie Locus of UGA picked a bold black, red, and silver look to match her team colors. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Stina Gardell donned a rich purple polish to contrast with USC’s cardinal and gold. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Virginia’s Hannah Borgersen is sporting the classic pink on her toenails. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Courtney Bartholomew, Virginia, in shocking salmon pink. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Ivy Martin got red, white and black on her nails, with some embellishments to boot! (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
Emily Bos of Auburn chose a fiery orange red polish. (Courtesy: Janna Schulze)
And for those wondering who it was in our headline shot, here are your Cal Golden Bears.
Hey that’s Claire Brandt reppin’ the shiny gold party with the contrasting turquoise!