Rio 2016: Cup half full for ‘vampire victim’ Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps has set tongues wagging at the Rio Olympics by sporting mysterious deep-purple circles on his body, looking as if he has been attacked by a blood-thirsty vampire.

The welts, which resemble giant hickeys, are actually caused by the ancient Chinese healing technique of “cupping” — which has since become a celebrity health fad that is supposed to improve blood flow and energise the body.

“I have done it for a while but I haven’t had bad ones like this for a while,” Phelps told reporters after Monday’s 400 metres butterfly heats. “That’s where they usually hurt the most,” added the American, rubbing his right shoulder. “I’ve done it before pretty much every meet I go to. I just asked for a little cupping yesterday because I was sore and the trainer hit me pretty hard with one and left a couple of bruises.”

In an era when doping scandals cast a long shadow over sport, the suction therapy — which dates back thousands of years — is a legal alternative. It works by drawing blood to the affected area, reducing soreness and speeding the healing process of overworked muscles. Pressurised cups are placed on the skin and the suction causes capillaries just beneath the surface to rupture. It last only a few minutes and can result in golf ball-sized bruises.

“It’s like the decorative garnish on a steak,” said Mr Keenan Robinson, director of high performance for the US swim team. “Mike’s walking around looking like a dalmatian but it’s just another recovery modality.”