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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REPRINT ARTICLE ARCHIVES => Topic started by: Jessaboo on August 17, 2008, 03:35:32 pm

Title: Olympic Honey
Post by: Jessaboo on August 17, 2008, 03:35:32 pm
Not sure where to put this - but here it is:

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/The-mystery-of-the-honey-toting-gymnasts?urn=oly,101238

The mystery of the honey-toting gymnasts

By Chris Chase

When it comes to loving honey, Winnie the Pooh ain't got nothin' on Olympic gymnasts. Eagle-eyed viewers of NBC's gymnastics coverage have noticed the consistent presence of a honey bottle in, or around, the gymnast's chalk bucket. Collectively, they'd like to know what a kitchen staple is doing amongst pommel horses, uneven bars and Martha Karolyi.

Knowing where to turn with Olympic-related queries, the inquisitive readers flooded the comments sections of Fourth-Place Medal's Investigative Unit requesting -- nay, demanding -- an answer. As usual, we exist to serve. So without further adieu, FPMIU solves the mystery of the honey-toting gymnasts.

Contrary to an apparent widely-held belief, the honey is not consumed to provide a quick energy boost. There are virtually hundreds of better energy boosting options that exist (and aren't as sticky) and, frankly, somebody who is about to execute precise movements while holding onto a thin, reinforced composite plastic bar probably doesn't need to be hopped up on sugar.

The honey is actually used like Stick-um; to provide a better grip on certain elements in "hanging" events. We always see gymnasts chalk up both their apparatus (to make it easier to swing on) and hands (to prevent cracks in the skin). By placing a little honey on either their fingertips or palms (or both) gymnasts can get an even better grip on the rings or bars while swinging.

Mystery: solved. (Still unsolved; why it appears to be a German bottle of honey.)
Title: Re: Olympic Honey
Post by: KONASDAD on August 18, 2008, 10:14:08 am
I noticed the honey myself.