U.S. swimmers share insight on 'cupping' craze

The large circular bruises decorating the anatomies of U.S. swimmers at Rio 2016 will agree: It does look a little odd.

"It looks like we got attacked by an octopus," says Dana Vollmer.

But the blemishes that come from "cupping" - the quirky, do-it-yourself restorative health measure being relied on more and more in the athletes' village - is well worth it.

"I know that it looks weird," Vollmer, a two-time medalist at these Games, elaborated in conversation with the Sporting News, "but it helps with blood flow, it helps pull fluid or swelling out of different areas when you are able to put this cup on and move it.

"It works great for a lot of us. A lot of us use it. Not all of us have quite as many cup marks as some of the swimmers we see them on. Nathan (Adrian) and Michael (Phelps) love it."

The process aims to reduce pain by alleviating pressure, or the inverse to a massage. And although the dark, unmistakable blotches make it look likes it's a painful process - like a deep-tissue massage can be - bronze medalist Cody Miller says that's simply not the case.

"You have to remember, it's superficial bruising,” he said. "You can get hit really hard and the bruise is not that kind of bruise. Your muscle tissue is not torn up in there. It's pulling blood, and it just kind of sits there as that tension builds, and then you release it. It's great."