How Can You Train Like an Olympic Athlete?
For years Olympic athletes have used the same training methods to prepare themselves for the “one moment in the spotlight” event. Just think, Olympic athletes train for years to prepare themselves for maybe a few days of competition. This year, Olympic Athletes are faced with even more uncertainty as they prepare for the summer Olympics set to be held in Tokyo, Japan from Friday, July 23 to Sunday, August 8. These Olympics have already been postponed once, and no one knows what the world will look like a month from now. How do they do it?
Tips from the Athletes regardless of the circumstances:
1. Train Daily
Life gets crazy, and no one wants to think about working out after a long day at work or with uncertainty looming, but it is all about routine. Once you can get in a set schedule, your body adjusts, which helps you lose weight, and maintain a level of conditioning. Even when all of the gyms shut down and pools closed, Olympics athletes found ways to train daily to keep their body in shape. Carlin Isles (Rugby) decided to use anything around him as training equipment, such as his dining room chairs, pushing his car uphill, laundry detergent etc.
2. Be creative!
There is more than one way to train and get your daily workout in. Even Olympic Athletes will train in other ways besides the sport they are competing in. For example, a long-distance runner may run one day, but do a more casual workout the next day with weights. Through the pandemic, divers got creative and used trampolines and at home swimming pools to perfect their form.
3. Don’t lose sight of the goal.
A big part of Olympic training, and this goes for your fitness goals as well, is staying focused on maintaining a steady balance of your end goal. It is a mental challenge just as much as it is physical. You don’t want to reach your goal, and stop, instead it is important to reach your goal and maintain that level. An Olympic Athlete trains for years, not just a few months. Even though last year’s Olympics were postponed for a year, many Olympic Athletes are mentally trying to stay focused on the end goal whenever that may be. When you set that goal make it simple, specific, and reachable.
4. Fuel your body.
Often, we are concerned about what food we should be eating, and what food we shouldn’t touch. Alternatively, we may wonder which diet will be effective, and which diet could make us lose progress in the long run. One thing we do know is that food is essential. You need to think about what food is going to fuel your body to make it the most productive it can be for the longest period of time. For example: Ice cream is good occasionally, but that sugar rush only lasts so long.
5. Sleep.
Sleep is the best form of recovery for our bodies. You need to know how much and how little sleep your body needs to run effectively. Typically, that is between 7-10 hours a night. It is important to know when to rest, especially if you are working towards a hard goal.
6. Stay Positive!
These goals aren’t made in a day. Olympic Athletes train for years, so don’t expect to reach your goal in a few weeks. It takes a lot of dedication, but having an open mind and positive attitude are key! Sean McCann, senior sport psychologist for the U.S. Olympic Paralympic Committee states, ‘It’s been a long haul. We’ve got to still keep doing the basics and taking care of ourselves physically, socially, and emotionally.” All we can do is keep moving forward.
**Please keep in mind that Maria is not an expert, and these are suggestions based on research. Please take these suggestions with a grain of salt and at your own discretion.**
-By Maria Fontaine, Dreissig Apparel Inc. Fashion Design and Merchandising Intern
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/14/olympic-athletes-training-home-workouts/
https://www.verywellfit.com/train-like-an-olympic-athlete-1231196
https://time.com/5928901/tokyo-olympics-athletes/
Featured Photo Source:
https://unsplash.com/photos/xhroyV_upAA