Every time I go back to visit my parents in my sleepy hometown, my mom always asks me to see what her new set of nails looks like.
This time my nails are covered in a baby blue shade with abstract cherries airbrushed over a bright red. I always love minimalist almond-shaped nails with feminine and delicate details. I offer her hands, which have endured cuts, burns and aging, soft hands that are not burdened by childbirth.
She always says, “They look so pretty!” and then asks how much they cost when I wince in pain at the thought of my bank account balance. In return, she shows me a new set of gel nails that a local manicurist gave her. Nails have always been a way for us to bond.
Nails have always been a way for us to bond.
My mother’s natural nails, like mine are now, were long, strong, and doll-like. This was before she ran a restaurant and cut her nails short. But before that, she painted her own nails with different shades of drugstore nail polish—red, green, and blue—and sometimes French-tipped them. I watched in awe as she slowly understood and learned what her mother thought a woman should be.
Some of that self-expression is on display in Olympians like Shakyari Richardson, Jordan Chiles and Noah Lyles. Medals aren’t the only decorations Olympians have been sporting at the 2024 Paris Games. Richardson is known for her dramatic, several-inch press-on nails in red, white and blue. When she won gold in the women’s 4×100 meters on Friday, she had the words “I’m not back. I’m better” scrawled on her nails. The nails were decorated with gaudy silver sequins, red gemstones and a gold hamsa hand on each nail. One nail had the Olympic rings painted on it.
This wasn’t the only nail design Richardson wore at the Olympics. Known for her brightly colored wigs, elaborate nails, and false eyelashes, Richardson pushes boundaries with her bold aesthetic, and she knows it. She changed her nails twice during the Paris Games. The first was a patriotic nod to Team USA, with red, white, and blue polish and lots of gemstones. The other was a sharp stiletto shape with a black base and brightly studded gemstones in neon colors like lime green (a la Brat Summer), hot pink, and sunset orange.
Meanwhile, during her Olympic routine, Chiles sported a pair of blue and red snakeskin airbrushed squared-off nails, punctuated with wavy gold lines for symmetry. Lyles’ nails also had a funky, fresh look. The gold medal-winning sprinter also added a patriotic touch to her USA with a white star painted behind a blue base. From long acrylic USA nails to shorter nails featuring the Olympic rings or funky, abstract gel nail art, all of these designs go beyond sports to create eye-catching drama.
But when, like Richardson and Chiles, their nails are long and a little unnatural, it’s natural to question the performance of these elite athletes. Most people, especially if they’re active (like competitive gymnasts or sprinters), choose to keep their nails short or just leave them natural. That’s what my former chef mom did, too. This makes sense.
Richardson has previously been criticised for her nails slowing her down, with some online calling her nails “filthy” and advising her to “turn off the noise, remove the fake nails, focus and let the race do the talking.”
In 2019, Richardson responded to the criticism by saying, “I didn’t realize the weight of my hair or the length of my nails would affect how I lift my feet, but oh well.” Now, the sprinter’s nails are even more uncomfortable and impractical. “What they create matches my energy and my vibe,” she says of her manicurists. “So we’re locked in energetically. We’re all locked in.” It seems to be working: Richardson is now considered one of the fastest women in the world.
Gold medal-winning gymnast Chiles has received similar comments questioning how she can perform with the unusual shape of her nails.
“People always ask me how I do gymnastics with such long nails,” Chiles explained to the Associated Press. “The truth is, my nails help me improve my technique. It’s really a way to keep my nails from breaking.”
For all the naysayers who doubt the abilities of these athletes because of their long nails, just take a look at pioneer nail queen and sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner. Better known as FloJo, she was the first black woman to win four gold medals, setting a historic record, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She became the fastest woman in the world, accessorizing with her own two-inch by two-inch red, white and blue nails. She’s also one of Richardson’s biggest inspirations, both for her speed and her style.
American athlete Florence Griffith Joyner shows off her 1988 Olympic medal during a studio feature in Seoul, South Korea. (Tony Duffy/AllSports/Getty Images)
Nails are an accessory that makes a strong statement about yourself.
Men like Chiles, Richardson and FloJo let their athleticism and their nails speak for themselves. To think that their hard work and sometimes superhuman abilities will fade away just because they want to make it in fashion and design is to underestimate their talent. Should athletes be barred from enjoying the bodies they have, prized by millions around the world? Their bodies are so inextricably linked to their performance, shouldn’t they be able to celebrate excellence through art? Because nails are just that: accessories to showcase a strong sense of self. And they’re also just plain fun fashion.
At least for me, I grew up with the image of beautifully decorated nails as a way to show people that my life was going well. There’s a sense of security and peace in knowing that everything is going to be OK because my nails are done. Whether they’re flashy or subtle, people look at me. When they compliment my nails or I compliment theirs, it gives me the experience of pampering myself, which leads to a greater sense of self.
I didn’t start getting my nails done regularly until I turned 24. My 24th birthday was the week of the Babenheimer movie theater experience. I decided that on my birthday I would get a new tattoo, dye my hair blonde, and get Barbie pink square gel x-nails (clear nail tips that sit on top of your natural nails).
Over a year later, I still get my nails done professionally. I currently have cherry nails, but before that, I had yellow French manicures with hibiscus flowers for the summer. Before that, I had mermaid-inspired gel nails that sparkled like the sun shining on a tropical sea. I’ve tried different styles, lengths, and even broken nails. They may not be suitable for my daily life, but they’re a part of me now. I’m not on an Olympic stage showing my nails to millions of people around the world, but showing them to others is an easy way to share my appreciation for beautiful things and build bridges.
My experience as a monthly replacement nail artist doesn’t end there: my nails hinder my performance. I’ll be honest, my long nails can make it hard to unlock my apartment door. But aside from the time it takes to get used to them, I love the sound of my nails clicking against the keyboard as I type 100 words a minute.
I’m not an Olympian, but Richardson, Chiles and Lyles are, and I think their nails make them look less like superhumans and more like people who know themselves at heart, and that shows through their long, impractical and sometimes gaudy nails.
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