Behind-The-Scenes Olympic Photos For A Whole New Perspective
Once every two years, we get to witness incredible athletes push their bodies to the limits. They jump higher, run faster, swim farther, and tumble more artistically than anyone has ever done before. We watch because we're impressed, but we would be even more impressed if we knew what was truly going on behind the scenes.
Here are some Olympic images that might just change the way you look at the games.
Is He Doing This Right?
This is Anthony Ervin. He's an Olympic swimmer who has won numerous medals. This might be the secret to his success.
He has to shave his whole body before he gets into the pool.
Working Together
Reddit user greatgildersleeve posted this photo online along with the caption, "At the 1936 Olympics, Japanese athletes Shuhei Nishida and teammate Sueo Ōe refused a tie-breaker for the silver, so Nishida was given the silver and Ōe the bronze."
"They cut their medals in half and welded them together as an act of friendship."
The New Olympic Sport
This is a photo of Olympic diving gold medalist Tom Daley knitting as he watches the women's 3 meter springboard final.
I think knitting should be an Olympic sport now. I would definitely watch that.
Just Chilling
American Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman posted this photo of herself chilling on her couch on Instagram.
She was wondering if anyone else sits like this when they're unwinding after a long day of tumbling.
The Olympic Rings
The wood used to make the Rings for the 2020 Olympics in Japan came from trees planted by international athletes in 1964.
This was the last time the games were held in Japan.
That Size Difference
We knew that Simone Biles was short, but we didn't know she was this tiny. Granted, the athlete next to her is also super tall.
I guess size really doesn't matter.
Tearing Up The Track
This is a photo of Usain Bolt's back after he reached top speed. He runs so fast that he literally takes the track with him.
That's little bits of gravel on his skin.
Tall Vs. Short
Missy Franklin, the woman on the left, is an Olympic swimmer, and she's standing next to Shawn Johnson, an Olympic gymnast.
I wonder how they would do at each other's sports.
What Her Hands Look Like
Hidilyn Diaz just won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. She's a weightlifter, and this is what her hands looked like after her event.
This is what dedication looks like.
That Wingspan
We knew that Usain Bolt was a crazy fast runner, but we didn't know that he was capable of whatever this is.
This just looks superhuman to me. Is he Spider-Man or something?
Short Simone
In case you were wondering what it would look like if Simone Biles stood next to Lebron James, well, here you go.
Mystery solved. Yes, she is very short and he is very tall.
The Top Of The Jump
This was the view from the top of the Olympic ski jump in Sochi, Russia.
It might look easy on TV, but this is what the athletes are actually looking at before they make that leap.
In The Winner's Circle
This was Sunisa Lee's family's reaction to her winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics gymnastics all-around competition.
They look like they're super proud of her. This photo is what the Olympics are all about.
Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps' Diet
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, American swimmer Michael Phelps maintained an insane diet consisting of 12,000 calories per day. The 23-time Olympic gold medalist consumed around 4,000 calories with every meal to keep his energy up.
His breakfast consisted of three fried egg sandwiches, one five-egg omelet, porridge, three slices of French toast, and three chocolate chip pancakes. Lunch includes a large serving of pasta, two ham and cheese sandwiches, and energy drinks. For dinner-- more pasta, an entire pizza, and according to Aspire Channel Swim. That's a lot to stomach!
Olympic Decathlete Ashton Eaton's Diet
Olympic decathlete Ashton Eaton says that both he and his wife, Olympic runner Brianne Theisen-Eaton, follow a "six-point philosophy" for their diet. He told Runner's World that number one is "protein is king". Their diet also includes eating the full-fat options of products and eliminating refined carbs and sugar.
Ashton also limits liquid calories and loads up on veggies. The retired decathlete prefers eating a wide variety of proteins, including steak, pork, chicken, and fish. He also makes what he calls "food boards", taking a cutting board and laying out carrots, green beans, pickles, meats, and cheeses. "I'll just kind of graze without overdoing it."
Olympic Runner Justin Gatlin's Diet
Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin is considered one of the best sprinters of his time. To stay at the top of his game, Justin changed his eating habits with the help of his coach. For breakfast, he'll eat a protein shake made with vegetables and whey. After practice, Justin will refuel with two Nutri-Grain bars.
For lunch, the runner sticks to a big salad topped with a lean protein, like chicken breast. Dinner will be filling and hearty, like a bowl of chili. He told Esquire that he can't stay away from the sweets, though. He admitted that he called his coach at 11 pm to ask, "Hey coach, can I have a piece of apple pie?"
Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles's Diet
Simone Biles stole the spotlight at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, taking home four gold medals and one bronze. Before her first workout, Simone told Women's Health, "I love drinking Core Power; it's a recovery drink. And then a banana and peanut butter because bananas have potassium, which helps with muscle cramps."
For her lunches and dinners, Simone turns to fish (usually salmon) alongside servings of rice and carrots.
Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte's Diet
While Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte doesn't consume quite as many calories as Michael Phelps, he told ABC News that he does eat between 7,000 and 8,000 calories each day while training.
Ryan's go-to food is pasta, and plenty of it. He hired professional chef Glenn Lyman, who is known for cooking for top professional athletes, to make his meals. Ryan eats a wide variety of pastas and for his cheat day, no matter where he is in the world, Ryan eats Domino's pizza and wings every Friday.
Olympic Snowboarder Jamie Anderson's Diet
Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson has proved herself as one of the best women's slopestyle and big air riders in history, winning 11 medals in the sport. When it comes to food, Jamie focuses on nutrition and eating whole foods.
She told US Weekly that she eats "Lots of different grains, ancient grains, and different beans, vegetables." She loves cooking when she's at home, putting together stir-fry dinners with a mix of vegetables and Korean flavorings.
Olympic Basketball Player LeBron James' Diet
Olympic basketball player LeBron James eats a nutritious diet that also helps him maintain a healthy weight. LeBron eliminated sugars, dairy, and carbs from his diet. LeBron told Men's Health, "All I ate was meat, fish, veggies, and fruit."
That includes salads topped with a large portion of lobster or chicken dressed with olive oil and lemon vinaigrette. Before game time, he'll add some pasta, or eat some fruit with a protein shake for extra energy.
