Today, I've just recently read what Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter with 2 gold medals and 2 world records at the Beijing Olympics, ate prior to his race. To my complete surprise, Usain Bolt fueled up on Chicken McNuggets from McDonald's prior to the race...."I'm lovin it."
From a nutritional stand point, it would not take very much to question this choice, but given that he set 2 world record times (100m 9.69/200m 19.30) and won 2 Olympic gold medals, it's hard to imagine that he would have ran much faster with a healthier breakfast. The last sprinter to win both the 100m and 200m events at the same Olympic games was Carl Lewis in 1984.
9 comments:
Interesting...but we can't fuel our kids up on mcnuggets b4 they go 2 school--so be careful, someone not reading so well could get the idea you are advocating a world of unhealthy people...:)--interesting to know though...
I agree with you and I would be the last person to suggest that anyone fuel up on McNuggets.
I find it hard to believe that he actually ate McDonald's before his race.
Maybe he is receiving endorsement money from McDonald's.
Michael Phelps is working with both McDonald's and Kellog's Frosted Flakes.
I think it's shame that sports idols encourage their fans to eat junk food... all in the name of money.
You mean I can't eat Chicken uggets for breakfast everyday? Now that is disappointing!
That's just crazy. Also, crazier, is what Michael Phelps eats in a day.
You would think these guys eat clean and mean; lot's of protein, veggies, pasta and rice for carb loading before events....
I had NO idea that our top athletes do what they do by consuming the absolute worst foods to be found out here!
Thank you all for these insightful comments.
Alexander: I agree with you that there is certainly a possibility that Usain has a public endorsement deal from McDonald's. However, McDonald's has publicly denied that this is the case. Additionally, I certainly also agree that athletes are influential role models and that this sets a bad example for their fans.
McDonald's is apparently the official restaurant of the summer Olympics--all for the very low price of just over seventy million dollars.
Sara: Go to the video store and rent Super size me. :P
Fitness diva: I agree with you as well. Carbohydrate loading's been popular even dating back prior to my involvement in bicycle racing back in the early nineties.
I couldn't believe what these guys ate either. But it does show one thing... the more you move, the more calories you burn!
Good article, and good blog overall btw.
I'm from the islands, and I highly doubt Usain has a MCD contract, it kind of just how we roll. We have our own ways of things, and spanking down nuggets before Olympics is classic West Indian :-)
I guess with the amount of training that athletes do, they can afford o have some unhealthy food choices as they will soon burn off all the fat. I think I would prefer to eat a bit less and not have to exercise all day!
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