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Canadian swimmer gives dad the finger before every race

Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Canadian swimmer Santo Condorelli has an interesting way of pumping himself up for races: flipping his dad the bird.

As an 8-year-old, Condorelli would become frustrated racing against older swimmers, so his dad (and coach), Joseph Condorelli, came up with the idea of having his son give him the middle finger.

"(Joseph said) 'You've got to build your confidence yourself and say eff everybody else that you're racing," the now 21-year-old Santo explained to Donna Spencer of the Canadian Press. "He said 'Every time you're behind the blocks, give me the finger and I'll give it back to you.'"

Condorelli will be competing at Rio 2016 in the freestyle relay, the 100-meter freestyle, and the 50-meter free.

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