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View all search resultsWhy does Michael Phelps have purple spots on his back?
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United States' Michael Phelps competes in the final of the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP/Matt Slocum)
A
fter the American men's 4x100-meter relay team won gold, Michael Phelps reached down to help anchorman Nathan Adrian out of the pool.
While he did it, millions of Americans watching at home saw several purple dots on his back and shoulder.
Some kind of new tattoo? Did he take a nap on a bed of tennis balls?
No, the circles are the result of cupping, a therapy technique that athletes use to help their muscles recover and perform at their best. It involves a therapist heating small glass cups, then placing them on the skin and pulling them from the body to loosen and relax the muscles.
(Read also: The good and the bad things about 'bekam')
Some experts are skeptical of the treatment's effectiveness, but Phelps has been using it regularly for a while. And the 31-year-old, swimming in his fifth Olympics, delivered on Sunday night.
With infant son Boomer watching from the second deck, the American superstar summoned a performance for the ages to propel Team USA to gold — the 19th of Phelps' career.
