Team USA Olympians & Paralympians Are Glowing for the Gold

You wouldn't show up to a presentation at work without popping on a powerhouse red lip, and you certainly wouldn’t give a big speech without spending a little extra time on your hair. Well, the same goes for Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes. These athletes train for years, conquering both physical and mental obstacles, all for an opportunity to compete on the world’s stage in front of millions—and their beauty routines need to stand up to it all.

Keep scrolling for four Olympian and Paralympian takes on the intersectionality of female athletes and beauty and their get-ready routines that help them look and feel their best.

Emma Schieck’s Look-Good-Play-Good Mentality

As a Paralympic gold medalist in Women’s Sitting Volleyball, Emma Schieck knows the importance of preparation—both physically and mentally. Born with a brachial plexus injury that limits the movement of her arm, Schieck has overcome significant challenges to become a champion on the world stage. Her daily beauty routine is an extension of her disciplined approach to training, adapted to fit the demands of her sport.

Schieck’s mornings often start with practice, where she keeps things simple with just a touch of moisturizer. “I usually practice in the morning and will just put moisturizer on before I leave my apartment,” she explains. After practice, she transitions into a post-training routine that includes a shower, face wash, and eye cream, followed by a light makeup look featuring her staple brow gel.

When it’s game day, Schieck’s routine becomes more focused. “There’s something about getting ready for the game that really helps me lock in,” she shares. Her game day essentials include a pomade stick to slick back her hair, concealer, brow gel, blush, and a setting powder topped with a strong setting spray. “Look good, play good,” she says, capturing the confidence boost that comes with feeling put together on the court.

As an advocate for women’s sports and adaptive sports, Schieck has also found empowerment in her beauty journey. Despite being introduced to makeup only a few years ago, her IPSY membership has been a game changer, allowing her to explore and discover products that work for her. “I LOVE getting to try new products,” she says, listing favorites like the TATCHA The Water Cream.

Schieck’s journey in beauty hasn’t been without its challenges. Due to her brachial plexus injury, she’s had to find adaptive tools that accommodate her needs, like a rotating curling wand that allows her to curl her own hair. “I now can do my own hair and makeup for events and photoshoots, which is something I never thought possible,” she reflects.

For Schieck, beauty is not just about appearance—it’s about resilience, growth, and empowerment. “Every time I do my own hair and makeup, it’s a reminder that I’ve grown and overcome so much,” she says. Whether she’s on the court or in front of the mirror, Schieck embodies the strength and determination that define both her athletic and beauty journeys.

Kaleo Maclay’s Trick to Maintaining Her Mental Well-Being

Kaleo Maclay, a two-time Paralympian and Team USA Women’s Sitting Volleyball star (she’s Schieck’s teammate!), embodies resilience and grace. Named the 2024 Best Setter at the World ParaVolley Super 6, Maclay has faced her own set of challenges, including being born with a club foot. But nothing has stopped her from excelling in her sport, running two small businesses, and being a devoted mom to her sons Duke and Kai.

Maclay’s beauty routine is all about consistency and embracing her unique style. “My daily routine usually starts with waking up with my heatless curls and reusable brow mask,” she explains. “For competition days, I will take more time and go through my makeup routine. I typically wear makeup during games—look good, feel good!” Her go-to products include a thin layer of GLOSSIER Skin Tint, cream blush, and mascara.

Despite the physical demands of her sport, Maclay emphasizes the importance of self-care and beauty as a way to maintain her mental well-being. “Being a mom and an athlete, you can tend to put your kids and your team before yourself. Over the past few years, I’ve started to prioritize the things that help me feel confident, like my skincare routine and getting my hair done,” she shares.

Maclay also understands the significance of representation in the beauty industry. “As an athlete with a disability, it is so important that brands are thinking about their packaging and applicators and how they can better include those with disabilities into the conversation.” Her dedication to her sport, family, and community, paired with her passion for beauty, makes Maclay an inspiring figure both on and off the court.

Vashti Cunningham’s Record-Breaking Beauty

This summer’s Olympics isn’t Vashti Cunningham’s first rodeo (or should we say, first high jump). In Paris, she competed for a third time as a member of Team USA. Her first games were the 2016 Rio Olympics when she was just 18. And days before her Tokyo Olympic trials, she stood out again, clearing six feet seven and a half inches, a new leading mark for 2021. As she racks up those record breaking wins, it means all eyes are on Cunningham. But this is where she thrives. 

“Being televised definitely makes my inner makeup artist come out,” she says. “I love to do different eye looks and try anything to separate me from the competition.” And experiment she does. She’s known to compete in makeup ranging from natural glam to statement black eyeliner and crystal embellishments. Her hairstyles vary just as much, rocking long box braids one day and her flowing natural hair pinned back the next. And she showcases all this style while clearing heights higher than the tallest person you know.

“I’ve definitely been training harder with the Olympics ahead,” she says. But strength training is only part of the equation. For Cunningham (and every elite athlete), competing also requires mental training. Getting ready before a big meet is therapeutic for Cunningham. It helps get her in the right headspace. “Before a meet, I’ll wake up, read my bible, and listen to worship music,” says Cunningham. “Then I do my skincare routine, my makeup, my hair, and add accessories. I love to jump in jewelry.” What she’s most excited for this summer: “Jumping in finals and winning a gold medal,” she says. “Also, doing my makeup and giving the glory to God.”

Sandi Morris’s Key to Confidence

Team US pole vaulter Sandi Morris is a well seasoned (and decorated!) competitor. She’s competed in six USA Championships, has three World Championship medals and a silver Olympic medal—and she’s not stopping there. She’s put in the training, even after a global pandemic pushed back her timeline. And all her experience means she’s a pro at competing in front of the entire world.

“Confidence is everything when you are competing,” says Morris. “The last thing you want to be worried about is how you look on a close-up HD camera when you’re trying to kick some butt. So I do up my competition makeup and hair, and I feel super fierce on the runway.” She starts by applying IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+ for the natural coverage and built-in sun protection. “The trick is to dab my face with a clean towel during training to remove sweat, not to wipe,” says Morris. “It will remove all protection.” Her sun protection doesn’t stop there. She mists her whole body in an SPF 100 spray before outdoor practice. “I also started incorporating retinol into my nighttime routine about two years ago to help counteract some of the sun damage I get during training,” she adds.

As for the rest of her makeup, she’s all about the glitter. “I will sparkle things up with my favorite eye glitter by URBAN DECAY,” she says. “They have a striking gold that goes great with my competition vibe.” She keeps her hair fairly simple, opting for an air-dry to her natural wavy state. But she’s never without her signature ponytail and headband during competition days. “I love these hair ties by a company called TIY Products,” she says. “It’s a customizable hair band that comes in one long string, and you tie it yourself based on how many times you want it to loop around and how tight you want it to fit. My fellow track athlete Colleen Quigley told me about them.”

Her go-to headband is not just for style, it’s also functional. “I love having my headband on because it keeps my baby hairs out of my eyes, and I’m able to focus on my vaulting,” says Morris. “I also like to use fun temporary hair color spray on the ends of my pony. I typically match the color to my headband, which is my trademark look. I will definitely be dying my ponytail USA blue for the Games.”

As a female athlete, Morris chooses to embrace expressing her beauty through her sport. “I think about this often, how sports have allowed women to take control of how we are represented. We have the reins. We have taken control of our beauty, and we use it as an expression of our power. Nobody can tell us how to look or be when we are on the field of play. It is our territory. We own it.”

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