Some say No Socks Day (observed annually on May 8) is a chance to free your feet of those smelly, sweaty socks, while others say it's a chance to better the environment because you will have a little less laundry to do. All we know for sure is athletes from 11 of our favorite Olympic and Pan American sports enjoy celebrating a lack of socks every day. Take a look at these sockless sports and just how successful Team USA can be without socks...
1) Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball players have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1996, and over the past 21 years, Team USA athletes have won 10 medals – all in their bare feet!
2) Diving
Divers have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1904, and over the past 113 years, Team USA athletes have won 138 medals – all in their bare feet!
3) Gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics made its Olympic debut in 1896, and over the past 121 years, Team USA athletes have won 113 medals – though we can’t quite be sure how many are attributed to sockless athletes!
4) Judo
Judokas have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1964, and over the past 53 years, Team USA athletes have won 14 medals – including their first golds in 2012 and 2016!
5) Karate
Karate athletes have been going sockless at the Pan American Games since the sport’s debut in 1995, and over the past 22 years, Team USA athletes have won 26 medals – all in their bare feet!
6) Swimming
Swimmers have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1896, and over the past 121 years, Team USA athletes have won an astounding 553 medals – all in their bare feet!
7) Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimmers have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1984, and over the past 33 years, Team USA athletes have won nine medals – all in their bare feet!
8) Taekwondo
Taekwondo athletes have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 2000, and over the past 17 years, Team USA athletes have won nine medals – all in their bare feet!
9) Triathlon
While triathletes do wear shoes on their feet for the running and cycling legs, most triathletes still go sockless for the entire race! Triathletes have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 2000, and Team USA has won two medals – including its first gold in 2016.
10) Water Polo
Water polo players have been going sockless at the Olympic Games since the sport’s debut in 1900, and over the past 117 years, Team USA athletes have won 11 medals, including gold in 2012 and 2016 – all in their bare feet!
11) Water Ski
Water skiers have been going sockless at the Pan American Games since the sport’s debut in 1995, and over the past 22 years, Team USA athletes have won 45 medals – all in their bare feet!