With just 1 week to go, the buzz for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is electric, and the table tennis community isn’t missing out. Fans might have noticed a touch of unexpected style gracing their favourite players  – the iconic marinières, or striped sailor shirts.  

See more players swapping sport style for French summer chic here.  

The marinière boasts a history stretching back centuries. Originally a practical undergarment for French sailors, the design, with its alternating blue and white stripes, ensured high visibility in case of a man overboard. However, practicality soon gave way to style. By the 20th century, the marinière transcended its utilitarian origins, becoming a symbol of French cool and bohemian chic, celebrated by iconic designers like Coco Chanel and Jean-Paul Gaultier, and worn by iconic artists and intellectuals.  

Now, as table tennis players don the marinière, it becomes more than just a shirt. It’s a badge of shared passion,  uniting a global community ready and eager for the Paris Olympics . While the marinières add a touch of lightheartedness, they represent a fierce commitment to excellence. Behind the scenes, our table tennis athletes are training relentlessly, honing their skills to razor-sharp precision. Paris 2024 promises electrifying matches, dazzling rallies, and a captivating display of athletic prowess.   

Reigning Olympic champions, Team China, have opted to dress their star players in blue, white, and red outfits, underscoring their serious intent and determination to excel in France and to defend their title once again. 

This taste of Parisian flair is a symbol of the incredible summer that awaits us all at South Paris Arena 4 from 27 July to 10 August. With Paris 2024 marking table tennis’ 10th appearance at the Games, excitement is at a new level. So, get ready, because table tennis history is about to be served with a dash of French chic and a whole lot of Parisian spirit.