What Do They Eat At Olympics?

Here’s What Olympians Eat for Each Sport 1 Elite shooting. Most people probably wouldn’t consider the task of aiming, pointing and shooting to be physically arduous. 2 Gymnastics. Gymnasts like Biles and Aly Raisman launch themselves into the air and then flip and twist two or even three times before coming down to Earth. 3 Table tennis.

Like many Olympic Games that preceded it, as well as Tokyo, athletes had their choice of various types of international cuisine in addition to plentiful vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. According to Food & Wine, “All the food [was] dished out by one of six themed buffets: Salad, Italian, Asian, World, Korean, and Halal.

But it turns out that those at the highest echelons of shooting (the Rio Olympics includes rifle, pistol, shotgun and total shooting events) still need to carefully plan their diets.

But athletes at the top of their sport don’t want to feel bogged down by a huge meal. For example, they wouldn’t eat a burger prior to a competition, she says. While they can afford to eat more calories, they also tend to choose better sources, like avocados, candy-free trail mix, and nut butters.

What do athletes eat to prepare for the Olympics?

To prepare for the Olympics, top athletes eat balanced meals with carbs, protein, and fat. Canva; Everyday Health.

Collingwood points out that in general, Olympians eat strategically and with advice from their healthcare teams. To improve their athletic performance, they have lots of complex carbs for energy, lean proteins to build and repair, and fruits and veggies to protect their bodies from the damage of intense exercise.

Overall, an athlete’s energy needs will depend on their training and the demand of their sport, “and can range from around 2,000 calories per day for a shorter duration sport, such as for a sprinter or high-jumper, and up to 10,000 calories per day or more for training in a higher demand sport such as swimming.”.

In 2008, rumors swirled that Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps consumed 12,000 calories a day training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While he later debunked the statistic in a June 2017 interview with Men’s Health, confirming his caloric intake was realistically somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 per day, his eating habits raised interest about …

Biles, one of America’s golden girls of gymnastics, opts for balance, and avoids tracking her food and caloric intake. “I eat what I feel good with and try not to overeat or stuff myself because I’m always at the gym,” she told Women’s Health in October 2020.

The basic tenets of eating well — a mix of nutrient-dense foods plus limited splurges for craveworthy eats — applies to everyone. “Sticking to that is what helps athletes succeed and the everyday person reach their goals,” adds Goodson.

Meanwhile, Ledecky revealed to PureWow in September 2019 that her daily diet doesn’t exclude carbs, either. Toast, sandwiches, and berries all feature on her daily menu — with energy-boosting protein like chicken and nut better, as well.