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James Porteous

China’s cyclists at the Olympics have some impressive headgear – helmets featuring faces and masks from Chinese Opera.
It makes for an impressive sight as they speed around the velodrome at 70km/h.
China’s gold-medal winning team sprint team Zhong Tianshi and Gong Jinjie were sporting them on their way to victory on Friday, and male sprinter Xu Chao showed off his design on Saturday.


The women’s helmets featured Hua Mulan and Mu Guiying, legendary Chinese female warriors.
Xu’s had the Beijing Opera mask of Zhang Fei, a military general from the Three Kingdoms period.
WATCH: golden moments on Day 7 at the Rio Olympics

They proved a hit on social media, with a Reddit post titled “The Chinese Women’s track helmets are the coolest” hitting the front page of the popular news aggregator.

Although not everyone was convinced: “I find them slightly unsettling. Makes them look like they have tiny little heads haha,” wrote one user.
“The slight creepiness only makes it cooler IMO,” commented another.
Painted bright red, they obviously brought good fortune to Zhong and Gong.
WATCH: relive the action involving Hong Kong athletes on Day 7 at the Rio Olympics



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Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Peking Opera bike helmets worn by China’s Olympics team prove smash hit online

Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi of China compete. Photo: Reuters

2016 Rio Olympics - Cycling Track - Final - Men's Sprint 1/8 Finals - Rio Olympic Velodrome - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 13/08/2016. Xu Chao (CHN) of China after the race. REUTERS/Paul Hanna FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

(160812) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 12, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Gong Jinjie (front) and Zhong Tianshi of China compete during the women's team sprint final of cycling track at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 12, 2016. China won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Li Ga)(dh)

2016 Rio Olympics - Cycling Track - Final - Men's Sprint 1/8 Finals - Rio Olympic Velodrome - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 13/08/2016. Xu Chao (CHN) of China reacts as his visor flies off. REUTERS/Paul Hanna FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

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Legendary figures like Mulan feature on team’s headgear


China’s cyclists at the Olympics have some impressive headgear – helmets featuring faces and masks from Chinese Opera. It makes for an impressive sight as they speed around the velodrome at 70km/h.
