The Olympic Games always leave images that remain in the memory, especially in the moments of victoria and glory. It is the epic of sport at the highest level. But the most important sporting event on the planet also leaves curious snapshots. In Paris 2024, one of them will be the patch worn on the navel of the Chinese athlete Yang Jiayu, the brand-new Olympic champion in the demanding women's 20-kilometer race walk.
After a spectacular race by the Chinese walker, who launched a challenge to her most direct rivals at kilometer 5 of the race and went solo in search of the coveted gold medal, she clocked a time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 54 seconds. In a race in which the Spanish athlete Maria Perez also shone, who won the silver medal with a time of 1 hour 26 minutes and 19 seconds.
Photo: RTVE Play.
The truth is that it is not something new, because this latest trend of many oriental female athletes, who run in road events, was already seen and caused much impact in the past Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and in subsequent relevant competitions. A curious detail that the Chinese athlete Yang Jiayu has brought to the fore again.
This practice, which has attracted the attention of fans and experts alike, has generated endless speculation about its possible benefits and origins. Is it a revolutionary scientific innovation, a ritual, or simply a fad? In this RUNNEA Magazine article, we address this issue and discuss the various aspects of this intriguing trend.
Although it is difficult to determine exactly when this trend began, only a few elite runners, mainly from Japan and South Korea, were seen wearing these patches. However, the practice has spread rapidly among athletes in China, Singapore and other East Asian countries.
The international athletic community has reacted in various ways to this trend of running with a belly button patch. While some Western coaches and athletes consider it an eccentricity with no scientific basis, others are intrigued and open to experimentation.
Several sports physiology research teams have initiated studies to determine if there is any measurable benefit to wearing these patches. So far, preliminary results have shown no significant advantages, but research continues.
It is also true that in traditional Chinese medicine and other Eastern practices, the practice of covering the navel during a road race finds its connection in various Eastern traditions of energy and healing. In particular, the chakra theory, originating in India but widely spread throughout the East, offers a very interesting approach to this athletic tendency.
According to this theory, the navel is not simply a birth scar, but a crucial point in the body's energy flow. It is known as the solar plexus chakra or Manipura, and is considered the third major chakra in the human energy system. This chakra is associated with personal power, will and vitality.
In the Chinese Taoist tradition, there is a similar concept known as the "microcosmic orbit". This orbit represents the flow of vital energy or "qi" through the body. The navel is considered a key point in this orbit, where energy initiates and completes its cycle. Fans of martial arts and more energetic disciplines such as Qi Gong often focus on this area to cultivate and direct their internal energy.
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Go to the Shoe FinderFrom this perspective, the use of navel patches by athletes could be interpreted as an attempt to protect and empower this crucial energy center. The underlying belief is that by covering the navel, runners could gain these benefits:
There are also other aspects that are associated with psychological benefits, such as:
While these ideas may seem esoteric from a Western scientific perspective, it is important to remember that many modern sports practices incorporate elements of ancient traditions. Yoga and meditation, for example, have gained acceptance in the training of elite athletes around the world.
Photo: RTVE Play.
Athletes who have adopted this practice of running with their navels covered offer various explanations:
In this regard, and as an example, former Spanish bronze medalist bronze medalist in Sydney 2000, Maria Vasco, has publicly stated that she:
"I used to compete with a red-colored stone that I wore on my sacrum hanging, with a belt attached with adhesive tape. I did chromotherapy, working with color, and I competed with a red stone".
These revelations by Vasco shed light on the diversity of methods that top athletes are willing to explore in search of a competitive edge. Chromotherapy, also known as color therapy, is an alternative practice that attributes healing or energetic properties to different colors.
In Vasco's case, the choice of the color red is particularly interesting. In chromotherapy, red is often associated with energy, strength and vitality. Furthermore, in many Eastern traditions, the color red is linked to the first or root chakra, which is believed to govern survival, stability and connection to the earth - all crucial elements for a long-distance walker.
Be that as it may, it is difficult to establish a direct correlation between the use of umbilical patches and improved performance. However, it is undeniable that several Eastern athletes who have adopted this practice have achieved great results in various competitions. The clearest example is the gold medal won by the Chinese athlete Yang Jiayu in the women's 20 km walk.
As era, thisnew trend has not been without controversy. Some critics argue that the patches could be concealing illegal performance-enhancing devices. In response, several athletic organizations have implemented additional inspections to ensure that the patches do not contain prohibited items.
To date, no official international body within athletics has laid the groundwork for regulation on this issue; and of course, the use of such umbilical patches is not prohibited, considering them to be part of the athlete's personal equipment, similar to kinesiology tapes or heat patches.
Whether it is a passing fad or the beginning of a new era in elite athlete equipment, the phenomenon of umbilical patches among elite Eastern runners has added an element of mystery and debate to the world of road athletics. As scientists continue to investigate its potential benefits, this trend reminds us that in top-level sport, innovation and tradition often intertwine in ways that we cannot imagine, and more importantly, that we struggle to comprehend.
It remains clear that only time will tell whether this practice will spread to other regions or even to other sporting disciplines, or whether it will remain a curiosity in the history of athletics. For now, it remains a topic open to debate, but one that challenges our perceptions of the human body and athletic performance.
Opening photo: ©Dan Vernon in Worlds Athletics
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