Paris Olympics 2024: What will Olympians eat during the competition?

The road to an Olympic medal consists of carbohydrates.

As the Paris Olympics begin in 2024, much attention will be paid to what athletes eat before they hit the mat, run on the field or dive into the pool. After all, what an athlete eats can lead to their success.

Here’s what we discovered about what athletes eat on a typical day, what fuels them and what they secretly like to drink, as they put their bodies under extreme strain and stress during the Games.

Eat according to your sport

An Olympian’s diet is very different from that of the average Joe. All Olympians have detailed plans of what to eat – and more importantly, even their varied diet.

But it all starts with a plan. “Part of their training is their nutrition,” said Sarah Vick, a sports nutritionist and director of sports nutrition at the Ohio State Institute of Sports Medicine. The New York Times. “It’s like strength and conditioning. They need to know what nutrition they need and when they need it.

The diet of athletes is determined by the sport they follow. A calorie intake of around 2,000 calories per day for a short-duration sport such as sprinting and 10,000 calories or more per day for training in a more demanding sport such as swimming can be achieved.

Joanna Irwin, a nutritionist at the Canadian Institute of Sport Pacific, who works with Canada’s team athletes, said: Vox The most important consideration when charting an athlete’s diet plan is the type of sport. “A long endurance event requires athletes to carb load to maximize glycogen and energy stores leading up to their event.”

However, for sports where initiation is critical to performance, carbohydrate intake may not be high. For example, think of a 100 meter race.

However, almost all Olympic diets are built around four main pillars: a variety of carbohydrates, which are key for energy; Protein is essential for building lean body mass and ensuring stable blood sugar levels; Omega-3 rich foods (such as fish), which contain healthy fats and help regulate blood pressure; And lots of fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants and fiber.

When you picture an Olympic Village athlete’s plate for breakfast, think avocado toast, smoked salmon, eggs and a banana.

Personal preferences matter

Aside from what the sport requires, nutritionists and dietitians also pay attention to players’ personal tastes and personal injuries. Ricky Keane, senior sports nutritionist for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), was quoted as saying. CNET First and foremost she looks at the preferences of the player.

“Regardless of the sport, the first step is to start with individual preferences, tastes and if they are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc.,” she said.

For example, American gymnast Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic all-around champion, had her diet adjusted around her kidney diagnosis and eczema. For this reason, she eats a low-sodium diet to prevent any inflammation.

she said CBS News, “I like to eat very healthy because I know that if I feel my best I can go out there and compete at my best. I love my fruits and vegetables. I try to eat as healthy as possible, especially leading up to competitions – getting my good protein and carbs is also important as we need energy.

Another example would be Usain Bolt. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the sprinter ate 100 McDonald’s chicken nuggets a day because they were a familiar meal he knew his stomach could handle. He won three gold medals.

Even for Helen Marulis, the oldest female wrestler to compete in an Olympic Games, her diet was planned for her age and before her brain injuries on the mat. she said Time She says she eats brain-healthy foods.

Also Read: Ande ka Funda: Why athletes scramble for eggs in Paris 2024 Olympic Village?

In season vs off season

If what an athlete eats before the Olympics is important, what that athlete consumes during the off season is equally important. Nutritionists say that during the rest period, the calorie intake for an athlete is significantly reduced.

While nutrition changes in the offseason, Keane believes it still focuses on healthy living. “We still focus on food quality, color, healthy fats, lean protein, whole grains, as well as monitoring blood work for key nutrients.”

However, she cautions that it’s important to make sure the athlete is still meeting their basic energy needs to support overall health and avoid falling into a low energy state, which will ultimately affect their recovery and overall health.

Throw away that junk food

One thing that all Olympians have in common, regardless of their sport or weight, is that they eat very little processed food. Fast food items like burgers and chicken nuggets are strictly prohibited. However, vegetarian versions such as soy-based nuggets are available at the Olympic Village restaurant.

Another big issue for Olympic athletes is alcohol. This is reflected in the Paris Olympic Village. There is a bar outside the lounge – but it only serves Corona Cero, a non-alcoholic drink from Olympic sponsor AB InBev. Teams can choose to bring their own alcohol to the celebrations, but its use is not something Paris organizers promote.

But why don’t athletes have a boozy night? Experts explain that alcohol promotes dehydration and delays recovery. It slows muscle building and wear and tear, which is important for physical and mental recovery, and can alter sleep phases.

Laura Moretti Reese, chief sports nutritionist in the women’s athletic program at Boston Children’s Hospital. CNET The report also pointed out, “Alcohol also acts as a vasodilator, which increases blood flow to certain body tissues; If an injury occurs, this can lead to increased inflammation and delayed healing.

Eat like an Olympian

An Olympian’s diet may not suit the average person, but it does come with lessons. Nutritionists say Olympians should follow the same principle with their grub.

Be regular, avoid dieting and prioritize protein. Also, they say your diet doesn’t have to be perfect – neither does an Olympian. As Reese and Keane put it, “Olympians are like us and enjoy eating treats, and not all of their meals go as planned.”

As Vox writes, winning these days seems to start at the breakfast table.

with inputs from agencies

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