Daria Iushko and Kseniya Sydorenko of the Ukraine compete in the Women's Duets Synchronised Swimming Free Routine Final on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre, Aug. 7, 2012.
Divers and swimmers are trained to blow out through their noses to keep water out when below the surface, but synchronized swimmers, who spend a great deal of their time in the pool upside down, need the power of a nose plug. There are several on the market made by all the major sport companies—like Speedo, Tyr and Nike — made of metal and synthetic, a little more subtle than the rubber nose clips hanging around the neck ($1.50-$3.50). Backstroke swimmers also wear them; in fact, Tyler Clary struck gold in the 200 m backstroke wearing Speedo’s version ($6).