Food is a big deal at the Olympics. Thousands of different athletes all need the right diet to perform at their best, and that “right diet” varies widely. Michael Phelps famously ate 12,000 calories a day when he was dominating Swimming, while some Gymnasts and Divers stick to a more human 2,000 calorie diet. All athletes agree breakfast is key.
Keeping everyone fed and happy at the Olympic Games is a big task for the host city. The food in the Beijing Olympic Village has generally gotten high marks from the athletes. American Snowboarder Tessa Maud could have a future as a food blogger, gushing over the incredible Chinese dishes and seeking advice on new things to try from her followers. Shaun White offered a tour of all the options in the cafeteria - it’s a giant, free, global buffet - and pronounced the food “really good.”
Maltese Snowboarder Jenise Spiteri accidentally brought her favorite local food to the competition. As she was dropping in for her Halfpipe qualifying run, Spiteri realized she still had a bao bun in her pocket from breakfast - she had been too nervous to eat it. While waiting for her score after crashing on a difficult back-720 she “thought having a little bite of it would help soften the blow of falling on that run.” A Shanghai newspaper dubber her the “incarnation of Olympic spirit.”
Unfortunately, the culinary reviews are not so good from athletes stuck in COVID-19 quarantine hotels. Russian Biathlete Valeria Vasnetsova shared a photo of the same meal she received for "breakfast, lunch and dinner for five days," and Finnish Hockey player Marko Antilla was "not getting good food." Germany’s team director called for more food deliveries for athletes.
Meanwhile in the Media Center, journalists are served their robot-prepared meals via an automated overhead delivery system. If they’re thirsty, there’s a robot bartender to mix up a cocktail, and robot rubbish bins and mop-bots to clean up after.
Grabs some dumplings and tuck-in, we’ve only got three days of competition left!
What You Missed Last Night
Women’s Figure Skating comes to a dramatic and controversial close. The IOC has announced that they will not hold a medal ceremony if Russian Kamila Valieva places in the top 3.
(Reminder: How to Watch)
What To Watch Today
Eileen Gu goes for her third medal of the Games in Freeski Halfpipe. There are fewer total events as the Games wrap up, but more of them are Medal Events.
(Reminder: How to Watch)
In Other Olympic News…
NYT: Beijing Got All Ready for Olympic Curling. But About the Ice…
Yahoo! Sports: Team USA will reportedly receive Olympic torches in lieu of medals until Kamila Valieva case resolved
NPR: China puts coal plants at full capacity, even as it touts hosting a 'green' Olympics