Athletes are always searching for ways to perform better, recover faster, and stay ahead of the competition. Even small changes in daily habits can create a big difference on the field, in the ring, or on the court.
One of the newest trends? Mouth taping. It may sound unusual, but sports stars, from footballers to Olympians and MMA fighters, are using it to enhance their health and performance.
Who are these athletes who mouth tape, and what are their reasons? Read on to find out.
1. Erling Haaland (Football)
Erling Haaland is one of the most exciting strikers in world football, having broken the Premier League record by scoring 36 goals in his debut season.
He’s known not just for his power and finishing, but also for his dedication to small habits that keep him performing at his best.
One of those habits is mouth taping, which he uses at night to improve his sleep and recovery. He is one of the most famous celebs who use mouth tapes.
Haaland explained on the Impaulsive podcast with KSI and Logan Paul that he tapes his mouth shut to breathe through his nose, because “sleep is the most important thing in the world. You should try and tape your mouth shut close at night.”
2. Iga Świątek (Tennis)
Iga Świątek has already made her mark in tennis, winning six Grand Slam titles and quickly becoming one of the most dominant players in the world.
Her success is built not only on talent, but also on her strict approach to training and recovery.
Before her tournament in Montreal, Świątek explained that it was her fitness coach, Maciej Ryszczuk, who introduced her to mouth taping.
She now uses it both while sleeping and even during training sessions to challenge her body in new ways.
“It’s harder to breathe when you’re only breathing with your nose, and it’s easier for my heart rate to go up,” she said ahead of her match against Karolina Pliskova.
“I guess it’s the way to kind of work on my endurance by not having me run so fast and do extreme things.” She added.
For Świątek, this small practice helps her build endurance and stay mentally sharp during long, demanding matches.
3. Tadhg Furlong (Rugby)
Tadhg Furlong is widely regarded as one of the best tighthead props in world rugby. A key player for Leinster, Ireland, and the British & Irish Lions, he has started in multiple Lions test matches and has been named to the World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team three years in a row.
Despite his reputation as a powerhouse on the pitch, Furlong admits he’s a “weird sleeper” and takes his nightly routine seriously.
On the Indo Sport Podcast, he shared how he winds down early with red light glasses, an eye mask, earplugs, and most importantly, mouth tape.
Furlong explained that he first tried mouth taping after encouragement from Ireland’s strength and conditioning coach, Jason Cowman. The goal was simple: to train himself to breathe through his nose at night, rather than through his mouth.
“I used to be a terrible mouth breather,” Furlong admitted, joking that his teammates would laugh at the sight of him with all his sleep gear. But he noticed real benefits, especially waking up without the dreaded “chalk mouth” dryness.
“Who knows, maybe it’s all bluff,” he laughed, “but I feel better for doing it.”
Undoubtedly, these small habits make a significant difference in helping him recover, recharge, and stay at his best to meet the demands of elite rugby.
4. Adam Burgess (Canoe Slalom Olympian)
Adam Burgess made headlines at the Paris 2024 Olympics when he won silver in the men’s canoe slalom singles, the first British medal in the event since 2008.
What many people don’t know is that Burgess credits much of his success to better breathing. Burgess is also an Oxygen Advantage instructor and qualified breath coach, making breathing science a core part of his training.
Burgess uses mouth tapes to keep his airways clear and train his body to breathe through the nose. “It’s a very simple trick we can use to improve our sleep to ensure nasal breathing throughout the night,” he explained in an interview.
This small change has been a game-changer: fewer injuries, sharper concentration, and more energy on race day. As Burgess puts it, “Correcting my breathing was a huge turning point for me, not just for performance, but for my physical and mental wellness too.”
5. Ryan McCormick (Golfer)
Ryan McCormick, a professional golfer from New Jersey who has competed on both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, is known for looking for any edge to improve his game.
In 2025, he drew attention for taping his mouth shut during a tournament round. After months of battling frustration and anger on the course, McCormick decided to try something drastic. “I’ve tried a lot of things … I’ve read books, I’ve talked to people … just too angry on the golf course. So I figured I’d just shut myself up,” he explained after his round at the Club Car Championship.
The tape forced him to breathe through his nose and stay quiet, even when shots went wrong.
He joked that it made him feel like Batman’s villain Bane, and that he had to point or write numbers to communicate with his caddie. “It certainly makes you breathe,” he said, admitting it didn’t solve everything but helped him avoid creating a negative experience for others.
McCormick’s experiment shows a different side of mouth taping, not just for sleep or recovery, but also as a tool to manage emotions and focus under pressure.
6. Sean O’Malley (UFC Fighter)
Sean O’Malley is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion, known for his flashy striking and record-breaking pace inside the octagon.
In his rematch with Marlon Vera, he landed an incredible 230 significant strikes, the most ever in a bantamweight title fight.
Behind the scenes, O’Malley takes recovery and conditioning seriously. He has spoken about nasal breathing and how he uses mouth taping as part of his routine to boost endurance, sharpen focus, and improve overnight recovery.
“I do mouth taping more religiously than anything.” He said.
7. Brian Ortega (UFC Fighter)
Brian Ortega, one of the UFC’s top featherweights, has built his career on toughness and elite grappling. However, ahead of UFC 303, he surprised fans by showcasing a very different side of his preparation.
In UFC’s embedded series, Ortega revealed that he tapes his mouth shut during training. “Now what we’re doing is just sweating. Getting a good workout in, sweating, putting tape on the mouth that way I don’t get too excited. The tape on the mouth keeps me mellow.”
Mouth taping encourages nasal breathing, which in turn helps him keep his heart rate steady, conserve energy, and stay calm under pressure.
MyoTape Is the Best Mouth Tape for Athletes
Elite athletes, world-class footballers, Olympians, and UFC champions have shown how powerful mouth taping can be for sleep, recovery, focus, and endurance. It has become a trusted tool for athletes who want every advantage.
MyoTape makes mouth taping safe and effective. Designed by world-renowned breathing expert, Patrick McKeown, it doesn’t seal the lips shut; instead, it gently activates the muscles around the mouth to promote natural nasal breathing. That means you get all the benefits without the discomfort of regular tape.
Why athletes choose MyoTape:
- Boosts recovery and energy through deeper sleep
- Supports endurance by training nasal breathing
- Comfortable options for sensitive skin, beards, and kids
MyoTape is trusted worldwide as the best mouth tape for athletes, and for anyone who wants to breathe better, sleep deeper, and perform at their best. Explore the full range in our online shop and experience the difference for yourself.
