Ewa Swoboda, a Polish sprinter, had fans completely perplexed with her gesture after she won her first-round race of the women’s 100m in Paris on Friday.
Swoboda confused millions with her reaction to the camera after progressing through the first round of the women’s 100-meter race. She saluted in the direction of the television cameras with her right hand as it turned to her for her reaction.
However, the world indoor silver medallist seemingly realized her mistake and quickly corrected herself. With a slight shake of her head, she wagged her finger and repeated the gesture with her left hand.
At first I didn’t understand and at the end I didn’t either. 😂
What happened there?pic.twitter.com/SPZYmvBPps
— Figen (@TheFigen_) August 3, 2024
There’s a good reason why Polish Olympian Ewa Swoboda corrected her salute.
Many took to the comments and felt they cracked the code as to why she did what she did.
“Ewa Swoboda switches to her left hand to say a casual hello. The right hand is traditionally used for military salute,” one user explained.
While a second added: “Army salute is with right hand so to not be disrespectful she switched,” as a third agreed: “That’s why I always salute with the left right means military salute.”
Military salute is with the right hand.
So, she switches to her left to say hello.
— floridanow1 (@floridanow1) August 3, 2024
Saluting to the right is for military. She caught her mistake and then saluted from the left. pic.twitter.com/urMhICjTQL
— bstrat515 👑💛 (@bstrat515) August 3, 2024
Those social media users would be correct. According to the US Department of Defense, the military uses their right hand to salute, only swapping to the left if their right hand is injured.
Swoboda might be an eight-time Polish champion in the 100-meter race, but she did not display her skills well enough to advance to the Finals.
The 27-year-old ultimately failed to make the final after coming fourth in the semis behind Melissa Jefferson, Marie-Josee Ta Lou, and Mujinga Kambundji.
Ewa Swoboda Is A National Sensation With Her Talent And Looks
Boasting over 700,000 followers on Instagram, Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda has easily become one of the more popular athletes competing at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Before the Summer Games, Swoboda was announced as one of nine new Barbie doll models representing top sportswomen, promoting female athletes as role models of the Olympic Games in Paris.
“I am overjoyed that Barbie appreciated my story and honored me alongside eight other amazing female athletes from around the world with the title of Barbie Role Model. I still can’t believe it! I used to play with dolls as a little girl, and now I have my own Barbie doll that looks like me—the only one of its kind in the world,” commented Swoboda on her social media.
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