Ella Scott
Olympic viewers believe they know why Ewa Swoboda bizarrely corrected her hand gesture live on television.
27-year-old track and field star Swoboda began her Olympic journey last week by topping her 100m heat pool with a time of 10.99 seconds.
Despite placing first, the Polish sportswoman unfortunately failed to qualify for the main event.
She came fourth in the semi-final behind Melissa Jefferson, Marie-Josée Ta Lou and Mujinga Kambundji.
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But ahead of her 11.08-second feat on Saturday (August 3), Swoboda was seemingly in good spirits regarding her heat time.
She smiled for the panning camera before producing a salute with her right hand.
But after making the gesture, she quickly began waggling her finger before mouthing the word ‘No’.
Realising her apparent mistake, the athlete proceeded to salute again with her left hand this time.
The move has since gone viral across social media, leaving many viewers scratching their heads over why Swoboda was so adamant to change up the gesture.
However, according to one user of X, formerly known as Twitter, it’s because saluting with the right hand is often associated with the military.
“Military salute is with the right hand. So, she switches to her left to say hello,” they explained.
A second user echoed the sentiment and said: “Saluting to the right is for military. She caught her mistake and then saluted from the left.”
“Right side is a military salute. Second on the left side is a civilian greeting,” agreed another. “But most people don’t care….”
Swoboda is one of the nine Olympians who was immortalised in Barbie form ahead of the summer games.
The doll was commissioned as part of Barbie’s 65th-anniversary celebrations by Mattel.
Speaking about the one-of-a-kind toy, the three-time European Indoor Championship medalist said: “So happy that Barbie acknowledged my story and honored me alongside 8 other amazing athletes from around the world for the Barbie Role Model.
“I still can’t believe this! As a little girl I played with dolls and now I have my own Barbie doll that looks like me—the only one in the world.”
She continued to say that she wants her Barbie to represent ‘being yourself’ and the idea that you don’t have to ‘live up to anyone’s expectations’.
“Everyone has the right to express ourselves in our own way.”
Swoboda isn’t the only athlete Olympic athlete to get her own Barbie this year.
Iconic tennis player Venus Williams and Australian footballer Mary Fowler were also honoured alongside Mexican gymnast Alexa Moren and French boxer Estelle Mossely.
Paratriathlon Athlete Susana Rodriguez and swimmer Federica Pellegrini also joined the pantheon alongside Rebeca Andrade.