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Why Eva Samkova rocks a (painted) mustache

Samkova of the Czech Republic reacts during the women's snowboard cross semi-finals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor

Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic reacts during the women’s snowboard cross semi-finals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 16, 2014. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (RUSSIA - Tags: HEADSHOT OLYMPICS SPORT SNOWBOARDING TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

REUTERS

As previously established, snowboarders can be a quirky bunch. Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic - your newly-crowned Olympic champion in women’s snowboard cross - is no different in that regard.

Before every final round that she competes in, Samkova has a mustache painted on above her upper lip.

VIDEO: Samkova wins gold

In today’s case, her ‘stache was red, white and blue to match the colors of her country’s flag as this tweet from NBCOlympics.com’s Shawn Smith shows.

According to Samkova, the ritual is for good luck.

Per NBC Olympics, Samkova orders mustache stencils online after she and her teammates pick them out. The mustache is then drawn in with colored pencils.

MORE: U.S. snowboarder Arielle Gold shares video of fall that ended her Olympics

“The whole team just picks up some mustaches and we’re like, ‘Maybe this, or no, maybe this,’” she said before Sochi. “It’s fun.”

With today’s victory, Samkova has claimed her first Olympic medal in her debut Games. She had been a threat for gold since winning two of her first three World Cup events this season.

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