Once you activate the TV later this month, you’ll see the Olympics in all its glory—athletes flipping within the air, kicking by way of the water, and sprinting across the monitor, amongst different eye-popping feats. And the Paralympics, starting August 28, will solely proceed with the momentum.
However what occurs behind the scenes, within the storied Olympic and Paralympic Village, when the cameras are off? Athletes eat, sleep in cardboard beds, play Mario Kart, prepare and get well, and join with pals and idols alike as all of them put together for—and have fun or mourn after—one of many largest occasions of their lives. Right here’s extra about precisely what they expertise, from a dozen athletes who realize it greatest.
The vibe is mostly upbeat and fairly intense.
“It’s electrical, it’s international—it’s a neighborhood that’s vibrant. Everybody’s so excited and completely satisfied to be there—it’s like, ‘We made it to the Olympics. That is our dream.’ There are athletes from everywhere in the world, from completely different walks of life. It’s so cool.”—Helen Maroulis, wrestler who gained bronze in Rio in 2016 and gold in Tokyo in 2020
“It’s crowded! It’s type of ironic since you consider the Olympics as this elite sporting occasion the place such a small proportion of individuals ever get to go, however then you definitely’re within the Olympic Village with 1000’s of individuals. On the identical time, it’s tremendous enjoyable and you are feeling how particular it’s.”—April Ross, seashore volleyball participant who gained silver in London in 2012, bronze in Rio in 2016, and gold in Tokyo in 2020
“You expertise the Olympic and Paralympic spirit to the fullest extent within the Village. All people there’s an elite athlete and so they’re so proud to be there representing their nation. There’s a buzz round competitors and wanting to satisfy different individuals.”—Nicky Nieves, sitting volleyball participant who gained gold in Rio in 2016
“It’s chaotic. Sometimes, the marathons are in the direction of the tip of this system. So you may have this actual competition vibe, after which you may have a really severe, I’m centered on the most important occasion of my profession vibe, and it’s lots to steadiness. Nevertheless it’s enjoyable. You additionally admire all of the completely different physique kinds of sports activities with high-end, elite athletes all being in the identical place. You understand athleticism doesn’t have one look. It’s so broad.”—Des Linden, marathoner who competed in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016
“I had this sense once I walked in like I used to be within the superhero village. The quickest individuals, the strongest individuals—all people was dwelling there. They’re the real-life superheroes by way of energy and bodily capabilities.” —Marta Pen Frietas, middle-distance runner who competed for Portugal in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020
However the temper isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
“One thing individuals don’t discuss a lot is how heavy it’s after competitors within the Village. You labored so exhausting for a second of your life—it’s 10 seconds for those who run the 100 meters, 4 minutes for those who do the 1500 meters. You then’re like, this simply occurred, this second is gone. And typically persons are simply heavy, as a result of issues didn’t work out the way in which they wished. Not all people wins on the Olympic Video games. So you may have very excessive occasion power, or typically very low power. Center power may be very uncommon.” —Pen Frietas
The eating corridor comes with any dish you can need—and a LOT of site visitors.
“The eating corridor is out of this world. In Tokyo, it was two flooring; in Rio, it was the scale of a soccer subject. There’s each sort of meals you can think about. It’s attention-grabbing people-watching, too. I bear in mind distinctly that the Chinese language gymnasts in Rio had trays and trays piled excessive with solely pineapple. You then see large weightlifters carrying 5 large trays of meals. It’s fascinating.”—Kat Holmes, fencer who competed in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020
