What is the black tape on beach volleyball players?

Cupping is getting a lot of attention in the Olympics this week, but there's another bit of visible therapy on some of the athletes at the Rio games — kinesio tape. read more

If you’ve watched any beach volleyball, you’re likely to have spotted it: Kerri Walsh Jennings was sporting kinesio tape (bearing “USA” in bold letters) on her right shoulder in a match earlier this week; her partner April Ross’ knee was taped, too. read more

In theory, anyway.Kinesiology tape, or kinesio tape for short, is a flexible, cloth tape, which athleti German beach volleyball player Katrin Holtwick might be more internationally famous for the aquamarine lines of tape trailing down her midriff than her serves and spikes. read more

Some athletes swear by it, claiming the tape does the same work as braces placed on sore or injured parts of the body. In London, it might appear to be on every athlete. Beach volleyball players such as Kerri Walsh Jennings, for example, seem to be wearing more tape than uniform. read more