Simone Biles and crew will be competing for the women's gymnastics team gold today. And if you're like us, their tumbling passes will be the highlight of your Olympics viewing experience. The chances are also high that you have some questions that you're too afraid to ask outside of your girlfriends' group text.
So we asked Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson, 24, who was part of the silver-winning team in 2008 and won an individual gold on beam, to give us the lowdown.
Q: Why do some girls wear red, white and blue at some competitions, and pink at others?
A: Marta Károlyi, the national team coordinator, picks the leotards for competitions and calls pink and purple our "lucky" colors.
Q: Are grips comfortable? Or are they kind of like pointe (ballet) shoes, take some serious blisters and getting used to?
A: Exactly like pointe shoes! They are miserable until you get them broken in and build up enough blisters.
Q: Why do some women wear only one shoe on beam and floor?
A: Helps for turns on the balance beam and floor exercise.
Q: What’s with all of the snap hair clips?
A: An old tradition that needs to die!
Q: Don’t you get wedgies? Do you use butt glue like models and pageant contestants? Or nude underwear?
A: We wear nude briefs that go up past your ribs.
Q: Does wearing makeup affect your performance at all? How do you find products that stay on?
A: Always wear waterproof makeup, but even still, I would sweat it off.
Q: How do you get the courage to just do something that looks like you could break your neck?
A: Hold your breath and count to three!
Q: How do you know where you are in the air in relationship to the beam or vault? Is it dizzying?
A: We train what is called "air sense" or "change of direction" to not get lost. It still happens every now and then and it is definitely scary!
Q: How do you choose your floor routine music?
A: Most of the time, the national team selects it for you. (The national team, or USA Gymnastics, is the governing organization for the sport of gymnastics in the U.S.) Or if you really love a song, you can submit it and see if they like it, too.
Q: Does the chalk really go everywhere? (Gymnasts use chalk to help keep their hands from slipping, or sweating, off the bars.)
A: Yes! And it never washes off. I could shower five times and still have chalk on my legs.
Q: Do you flinch watching each other?
A: Absolutely! I get more nervous watching than doing it myself.
Q: Do you practice your score reaction faces? Or winning faces?
A: No! Ha-ha.
Q: Who would win in a face-off, the women’s or men’s team?
A: The women's team, of course!
