- British Triathlon emphasizes probiotics over medication for athlete health
- Team GB triathletes increase yoghurt intake for Olympic Seine swim
- Enhanced disinfection and strict protocols ahead of Paris triathlon
It has come to light that triathletes from Team GB are consuming probiotics and increasing their yoghurt consumption in anticipation of Olympic pollution in the Seine during Paris.
To prevent gastrointestinal issues, British triathletes have also been instructed not to handle recovery drinks or food after training in the water until they have been “sanitised to within an inch of their lives.”
The exclusive revelation regarding Team GB’s preparations for the Games arrives one week after Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, acknowledged that one of his “greatest challenges” was the possibility of torrential rain increasing E. coli levels in the Seine.
Nevertheless, in anticipation of the 100-day mark, British Triathlon has devised comprehensive strategies to optimise the chances of medal contention for the team captained by Alex Yee, the Tokyo 2020 gold and silver medalist, and women’s world champion Beth Potter in the mixed relay category.
Mike Cavendish, the performance director of British Triathlon, stated that while other nations considered using medications to safeguard their athletes, GB’s primary focus was on adopting a “friendly bacteria”-rich diet and probiotic supplementation regimen.
“Probiotic use is a major thing, and it’s all about getting your guts to be effective at dealing with any pollution that comes in,” he said, before confirming that the probiotics would be available in tablets and natural foods like kefir and yoghurt. “There will also be a significant amount of carbohydrates, which, to be candid, is partially because they ingest a tonne of garbage. However, those days of believing that consuming a can of Coke would be sufficient have long since passed.
Following each training session in Paris, Team GB athletes’ wetsuits will be disinfected with Hibiscrub as an integral component of their preparations.
Cavendish stated, “One of the most significant ways to become ill is not necessarily from what you drink and swallow while in the water.” “It occurs when you approach your mouth and eyes with your hands.” We will therefore scrub them down promptly with Hibiscrub, which is essentially what is used in operating rooms. If they are donning wetsuits, we will additionally transport them back to our hotel for thorough disinfection.
“Furthermore, they are strictly prohibited from accessing their recovery materials or food until we have meticulously sanitised them to the last drop.”
The mixed relay at the Paris test event of the previous year was forced to adopt a duathlon format because the swimming segment was cancelled due to the Seine’s foul water quality. Cavendish, on the other hand, expressed confidence that sewage system enhancements would permit the completion of the triathlon this summer.
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“Climate change has significantly complicated the task of weather forecasting,” he conceded. “However, as far as I am aware, the swimming leg will only be affected in the absence of substantial precipitation for a substantial duration.”
“The last thing we desire is a duathlon.” We intend for it to become the quintessential triathlon. We desire that the sport be promoted to its maximum capacity. Particularly at that hour of the morning when the sun is just beginning to rise, one can gather some breathtaking visuals while standing on that bridge and observing the Eiffel Tower. It will be incredible. And irrespective of the outcome, we shall remain prepared.”
Cavendish also commended French organisers for their diligent efforts to ensure athlete safety and the substantial financial investments required to enable the Seine to be traversed for the first time in a century.
“They truly could not have done more to bring water quality to the forefront of people’s minds; the concept is commendable,” he said. “The water quality data they possess is enormous; in the 750-meter area where we will be swimming for the triathlon, they have, at least, fifteen distinct sets of pollution readings every thirty minutes.”
