Why one Canadian swimmer flips his dad the bird before every race

Superstitions come in all forms in sports. Many athletes eat the same meal before every race or game, while others might have lucky socks or a lucky glove.

But this is a new one.

Before every race, Canadian swimmer Santo Condorelli looks to the stands, finds his father, and gives him the middle finger. And Joseph Condorelli gives it right back.

Wait, what?

According to the CBC, the ritual began when Santo was 8. Frustrated by racing against and losing to older racers, Santo’s confidence was flagging. So Joseph came up with the unorthodox idea.

“[He said] ‘You’ve got to build your confidence yourself and say eff everybody else that you’re racing,” Santo explains. “He said ‘Every time you’re behind the blocks, give me the finger and I’ll give it back to you.”‘

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Naturally, it’s garnered attention, and a little trouble too. Once, when Santo was racing at junior nationals, Joseph was seated right behind a television camera, so it looked like Santo was flipping off the viewing audience; he said he had to write an apology letter.

Over time, Santo has tried to make the gesture less overt, bringing his middle finger closer to his forehead.

The 21-year old is scheduled to take part in three events in Rio: the freestyle relay and the 50 and 100-meter freestyle. He’s a probable medalist in the 100, having finished fourth at the world championships last year and third at a Rio test event earlier this year.

Joseph Condorelli is New York City-born (Santo’s mother is Canadian), and says while his relationship with his son may seem odd to some, the two are close.

“I came from an Italian background, mother and father,” he said. “My father passed away when my son was about two years old so I kind of lost the crutch of how to raise a child. I separated from his mother when he was about four and a half, five years old. Can you imagine a rough New York City greaseball raising a young man who is that sensitive?”

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Santo spent much of his childhood in New York, and Joseph did what he could to keep his son busy and away from the temptations of the city.

“What I did was try to protect my son by keeping him very busy and always pushing him to do things,” Joseph said. “I was always afraid of a young man with nothing to do. I kept him out of trouble.”

FINA, swimming’s governing body, apparently isn’t crazy about the Condorellis’ pre-race ritual, which is probably why he’s trying his best to disguise.

But he’s not going to stop doing it, not now.

“Athletes always have that one thing that gets them going that they need to do,” Santo said. “That happens to be mine and still is. Seeing everybody’s reaction to it has been interesting.

“I’m not trying to piss people off. I just put it in the middle of my forehead now. My dad is definitely giving it to me and I can see him from a mile away.”

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