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AMERICAN FORK — A Utah County-based business is getting a lot of buzz from the Winter Olympics.
KT Tape is the exclusive provider of kinesiology tape for the U.S. Olympic team, and at least one Utah athlete used the USA-emblazoned blue tape in a unique way that caught the attention of fans and the company.
KT Tape is elastic, adhesive sports tape that comes in bright colors. When applied properly, it helps athletes deal with aches and pains of soft tissue injuries. The tape is sold in sporting goods stores, drug stores and grocery stores around the world.
Greg Venner, chief executive officer of KT Tape, said the company is all about helping athletes perform at their very best.
“(The tape) will provide pain relief, but it will also provide support to soft tissue damage, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints,” Venner said.
The company sponsors several Winter Olympians and supplies the whole U.S. team. KT Tape is used by professional athletes, as well as nonprofessionals, on their everyday workouts. The sports tape can often be seen on shoulder and knee injuries.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady used KT Tape several weeks ago on his hand for his infamous thumb injury before the AFC Championship game.
American figure skater Mirai Nagasu thrilled fans with her athleticism and artistry on the ice during Monday’s Olympics coverage, but her performance also raised questions on social media. People were curious about an odd dark coloring on her upper thigh — it turned out to be KT Tape.
“I’m guessing she had a strain in that upper thigh area,” Venner said of Nagasu.
Earlier this week, American Alpine skier Ted Ligety tried it on his face to fend off frostbite at 70 to 80 mph.
Venner called Ligety’s tape application “unusual” and said it’s not one the company has fully researched yet, but “athletes are very creative.”
KT Tape has come up with 55 applications, so far. The company is also in the early stages of researching the tape’s effectiveness as a windshield for frostbite.
Venner warns anyone who already uses the tape in order to prevent frostbite to remove it with baby oil so as not to hurt sensitive skin on the face.
