
Olympic Endurance Events Diet
These types of events include the heaviest high-calorie diets because each athlete will be put to the test of exerting tons of energy over multiple laps. Endurance events consist of swimming, cycling, rowing, and marathon runners, and they are the sports with the most injuries. These Olympians rank the highest in calorie intake by consuming around 3,000 to 8,000 calories every day. Olympic Swimmer: Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps

Sir Chris Hoy
Olympic Team Events Diet
These sports can also contain athletes consuming high amounts of carbs but to less of an extreme that swimmers and runners do. Olympic team sports like basketball and football are physically demanding and athletes must be capable of putting their best foot forward in every round. Other Olympic team sports that require a healthy mind and body are sailing, kayaking, or canoeing. Each team requires a moderate intake of 2,500 to 4,500 calories. Olympic Basketball Player: Sue Bird Sue Bird and her team have won 3 gold medals by working out and eating before leaving it all on the court. Bird’s interview on “How to Eat like a WNBA Player” has displayed the important balance of eating right and treating yourself. During her average day, Bird has a light breakfast before working out and enjoying a protein shake. She tries to limit her protein to chicken and fish and mixes plenty of vegetables into all of her meals. With four ounces of protein, two cups of veggies, and two servings of grain for dinner, she has shown that a controlled diet and exercise plan helps in the long run. However, she fully admits that she has cheat days that may include a cookie ice cream sandwich or two and that she feels no shame in treating herself when the time is right. Olympic Football Player: Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Olympic Power Events Diet
These athletes may not be tested for long periods of times, like endurance and team sports, but keeping up their strength is still of the utmost importance. Keeping a moderate energy and carb intake helps shot-putters and weight-lifters build muscle and power. These Olympians will eat between 2,800 to 6,000 calories a day depending on their event. Olympic Weightlifter: Kendrick Farris Having competed in the Olympics for three times in a row, Kendrick Farris has become quite experienced in training his mind and body. Two years ago, he has announced that he’s going for a vegan diet to prepare for Rio. This is controversial as most weightlifters claim that an all-meat and protein diet is the only way to bulk up. However, Farris has proven that his diet is bringing him success as he set a new American record total at the 2016 Olympic trials in Salt Lake City. Despite not releasing any dietary details on his new vegan lifestyle, Farris is having no problem moving up weight classes to compete this summer. Olympic Shot Putter: Dylan Armstrong In a humorous way, Dylan Armstrong has the exact opposite diet of Kendrick Farris. Having grown up eating ridiculously large meals with tons of meat and protein, he has applied this method to his Olympic diet. Armstrong consumes nearly 6,500 to 9,000 calories a day, eating nearly five or six times in just 24 hours. He claims to love salmon, chicken, and beef but stresses that his diet is high-protein and not high-carb. His 6-foot-4 body needs a lot of nutrients so that he can work out and compete efficiently.Olympic Form-Driven Events Diet
Not to say that these sports are only concerned about looks, but staying in top physical condition will help them hold complicated forms during their events. Gymnastics, diving, and synchronized swimming take hours upon hours of practice and often have more dietary restrictions than any other Olympic sports. Form-driven events only need about 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day to keep up their form and their strength. Olympic Diver: David Boudia The sport of diving, not to be confused with swimming, is entirely form-driven and has to be executed flawlessly. David Boudia has risen in popularity this year with his recent gold medal and strong performances with his partner Steele Johnson. Boudia’s Olympic preparation is much different from the previously mentioned athletes. His diet only consists of 1,800 calories a day, as the only time he burns calories is climbing up the ladder to the diving board. This doesn’t mean that he is not eating healthy, though, because as a diver his leg muscles need to have explosive power for every dive. He incorporates protein pancakes, protein shakes, and turkey and chicken dinners into his daily diet. Olympic Gymnast: Aly Raisman
Aly Raisman
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