For These Olympians, the Bling Is the Thing

For the approximately 10,500 athletes competing at the Paris Olympics, accessories — often of the ultrashiny variety, perfect for capturing the eye of dozens of photographers — are a way to celebrate their countries, their families or their achievements on the world’s biggest stage.

While some of the looks are impractical for competition — see Simone Biles’s diamond-encrusted goat pendant, which she showed off at a news conference after winning her sixth Olympic gold medal — most of the athletes with standout style have actually worn their accessories while competing. Yes, even the sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, with her seemingly mileslong black-and-neon acrylic nails.

The Olympic rings are a popular motif, but other athletes have turned to the more personal. The American sprinter Noah Lyles, for instance, rocked a sparkling chain-link necklace when he won his first gold medal, in the 100-meter final, and the Korean sharpshooter Kim Yeji wore her daughter’s plush elephant toy on her waist while competing.

No matter what or whom they choose to honor, athletes are using the world’s biggest stage as a spotlight for their beloved bling. Here are some of our favorite looks.

Simone Biles’s Diamond Goat Pendant

It’s not often that an Olympic gold medalist sports an accessory that outshines the medal. But Ms. Biles, who won her sixth Olympic gold medal, in the women’s gymnastics all-around competition, did just that when she donned a custom-made pendant with 546 sparkling diamonds in the shape of a goat — a reference to her status as the greatest of all time.