The Most Awkward Olympics Wardrobe Malfunctions Ever

Every Olympic athlete trains tirelessly, often sacrificing their personal lives, all in pursuit of excellence on the world stage. They wake up before dawn, endure grueling workouts, and push their bodies to the limit. Yet, despite their dedication, the spotlight can sometimes shift from their remarkable achievements to unexpected wardrobe mishaps. These awkward moments, while embarrassing, have become part of the Olympic lore, reminding us that even the best can have their vulnerable moments.

Wardrobe malfunctions at the Olympics are often more than just a slip-up; they can define an athlete's experience and sometimes overshadow their hard-earned victories. From unintentional flashes to entire outfits coming apart mid-performance, these incidents can lead to both laughter and sympathy from fans and fellow athletes alike. As we explore these memorable moments, we also reflect on the resilience of these athletes and their ability to laugh at themselves in the face of adversity.

In this article, we will dive into some of the most unforgettable wardrobe malfunctions that have occurred during the Olympics. These stories highlight the unpredictability of live performances and the human side of sports, where even the most prepared can find themselves in a tricky situation. So, let's take a closer look at these hilarious and sometimes shocking moments that have left audiences buzzing!

Table of Contents

• The Hard Truth of the Olympics
• I Don't Think You're Ready for This Belly at the Olympics
• Her Outfit Came Undone at the Olympics, But She Sure Didn't
• Henrik Harlaut Lost His Pants but Gained Entry into the Wu-Tang Clan
• This Just In from the Olympics Adjustment Bureau
• Dancing with Disaster at the Olympics
• When Swimsuits Give Up at the Olympics, Part 1
• When Swimsuits Give Up at the Olympics, Part 2
• Bubbles Helped Cover Tom Daley's Bum
• Stretching Made a Bobsled Racer's Glutes Famous
• Ice Dancer Siblings Got Stuck Together ... Literally

The Hard Truth of the Olympics

Rummel is the full package: Harvard-educated and an Olympic rower. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he was part of the crew that won the bronze medal in the not-at-all accurately titled "coxless four" event. Rummel's clothes didn’t fall apart or allow something inappropriate to sneak out. Rather, his wardrobe was so, so tight that it left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

This is to say that when the team accepted its medals and held Old Glory aloft, the only thing people were looking at was Rummel's shorts (second from left). He seemed to be very excited about competing in the Olympics. He even talked to Cosmopolitan about all the press his private part generated. "I took it kind of tongue-in-cheek and I thought it was hilarious, but my wife didn’t like it," he reflected.

I Don't Think You're Ready for This Belly at the Olympics

All figure skater Sergei Ponomarenko had to do was coast. After winning a bronze medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics, the pressure was off, and Ponomarenko just had to get through what commentator Dick Button called a "very lyrical and romantic" exhibition dance with his partner, Marina Klimova. As they expressively glided around the rink, the fabric on Ponomarenko's shirt gave out, exposing to the spectators at the Games in Sarajevo and to TV audiences at home an extraordinarily hairy stomach and the top of a pair of underpants.

This wardrobe malfunction became one of the most talked-about moments of the Olympics, highlighting that even in graceful sports, unexpected things can happen. As Button added, "It’s always seemed kind of difficult to get into skating, and you can have some embarrassing moments, and I think we see one here."

Her Outfit Came Undone at the Olympics, But She Sure Didn't

There were actually two figure skating clothing fails at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Just a few seconds into Yura Min's ice dancing routine with Alexander Gamelin for the team competition, a piece holding her outfit together came undone. The South Korean skater told USA Today she was "terrified the entire program" because the part of her costume that failed was a load-bearing fastener, and her whole outfit threatened to "just pop off."

Rather than stop the routine and incur a penalty, Min skated in such a way as to keep her clothes on — with incredibly stiff posture. While this likely affected the gracefulness of her movements, Min and Gamelin finished in ninth place. "Despite the wardrobe malfunction, I had an amazing time competing in my home country!" she tweeted. "I promise to sew myself in for the individual event."

Henrik Harlaut Lost His Pants but Gained Entry into the Wu-Tang Clan

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Swedish skier Henrik Harlaut really put the "free" in "freestyle." During a qualifying run for the men's slopestyle, Harlaut's baggy ski pants slipped a bit. He skied down the mountain with his loud boxer shorts in full view, but he was not embarrassed — far from it.

Harlaut totally owned the moment, stating, "I don’t find it difficult. I’ve skied like that the past 10 years. It’s been my style for a while." After his sixth-place finish, Harlaut even gave the cameras the Wu-Tang Clan "W" hand sign and shouted, "Wu-Tang is for the children!" showcasing his carefree attitude toward the incident.

This Just In from the Olympics Adjustment Bureau

Jenifer Benitez, an American-born springboard diver competing for Spain in the 2012 Summer Olympics, experienced a rather unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. After completing a dive from a height of 3 meters, she adjusted her swimsuit to make sure everything was in place. Ironically, it was in doing so that she revealed a bit too much.

As the scores were announced, a TV camera managed to catch a glimpse of something not G-rated as Benitez tugged on the neckline of her one-piece. While she surely never planned to show off her under-shirt area in front of the world, the moment was broadcasted live.

Dancing with Disaster at the Olympics

French ice dancing duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron were gold medal favorites as they began their short program at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. However, things went terribly wrong — not so much dancing-wise, but with Papadakis' wardrobe.

According to USA Today, the halter part unfastened near the beginning of the routine, and when Cizeron dipped Papadakis near the end of the dance, part of her chest was exposed, flashing television viewers at home and those watching slow-motion screens in the arena. Despite the mishap, Papadakis soldiered on but left the ice in tears.

When Swimsuits Give Up at the Olympics, Part 1

The combination of swimming really fast, physical contact, and barely-there uniforms make it surprising that there aren't more wardrobe malfunctions in water polo. During a match between Spain and the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics, American Kami Craig held back Spain's Matilde Ortiz by holding onto her swimsuit. The Spanish swimmer retaliated by wiggling and flailing, which caused her breast to break free from her