Beards the order of the day for superstitious men’s medallists

Rule number one for winning an Olympic medal in men’s sailing? Don’t shave during the competition, it’s seen as unlucky.

When Australia’s Matt Wearn, Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus and Peru’s Stefano Peschiera had gold, silver and bronze medals hung around their necks on Wednesday, all were sporting beards.

Wearn, the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s dinghy, said it was an old superstition among sailors, with Peschiera adding: “you don’t want to take the risk”.

“Even my coach doesn’t shave,” said the Peruvian...