Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender may have noticed an homage to the series made by Mexico's synchronized swimming team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.Mexico's synchronized swimming duo, Nuria Diosdado and Joana Jiménez, paid homage to the Nickelodeon show with their stunning, black and white swimsuits, designed by Mexican brand Gilling Activewear. The design on the front features the koi fish -- Tui and La, or yin and yang -- that first appeared in "Chapter Nineteen: The Siege of the North Part 1," the penultimate episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 1. The back of their custom leotards are also embellished with the symbols of each of the Four Nations: Water, Fire, Earth and Air. Photos of Diosdad and Jiménez were posted by Avatar News on Twitter.
Diosdado and Jiménez performed in the artistic swimming category on Aug. 2, day 10 of the Olympic Games, placing last out of twelve pairs in the women's duet free routine finals. While Diosdado previously competed in the women's duet at the 2012 Olympic Games and at the 2016 Olympics, this is Jiménez's first time competing in the Olympics.
The Mexican duo were not the first Olympians to reference the Nickelodeon show in their performances and costumes. Dutch windsurfing Olympian Kiran Badloe shaved his hair into the shape of an arrow and dyed it blue to match Aang's traditional Airbending tattoos, even posing with a staff to replicate the Avatar protagonist's iconic stance with his glider.
"This haircut is a tribute to the one and only true wind master," Badloe said, sharing the pictures on his Instagram. "The avatar, the last air bender known to be alive. I hope the spirit of this great warrior gives me the power to sail well this week and use the wind in my favor."
Avatar: The Last Airbender is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Source: Twitter