The gold medalist, Thomas Ceccon, was seen taking a nap in a park in Paris after expressing dissatisfaction with the living conditions at the Olympic village. Despite winning the men’s 100m backstroke this week, the Italian swimmer complained about the lack of air conditioning, hot weather, and poor food at the athletes’ accommodation. He stated that many athletes have moved out of the village due to these reasons, and it is not an excuse but the reality that may not be known to everyone. Ceccon, who is known for his handsome looks, was captured in an image taking a nap on a towel in a park, shared by Saudi rower Husein Alireza on Instagram. However, it is unclear whether the photo was taken before or after Ceccon and the Italian team were eliminated from the men’s 4x100m medley heats. Other athletes, such as Coco Gauff, Ariarne Titmus, and Assia Touati, have also complained about the living conditions provided by the organizers in Paris.
After successfully defending her Olympic gold medal in the 400m freestyle, Australian swimmer Titmus mentioned that she could have broken the world record if she had better accommodation. She admitted that living in the Olympic Village makes it challenging to perform at one’s best, as it is not designed for high performance and requires strong mental resilience. The beds in the village have been a subject of controversy due to their lack of comfort and the use of cardboard frames as part of the organizers’ sustainability efforts. This has received mixed reactions, with some athletes, like Tilly Kearns and Gabi Palm, complaining about the discomfort and others, like Daria Saville, highlighting the lack of hotel-like amenities in the village.
Recently, retired Olympic swimmer James Magnussen criticized the Olympics for prioritizing an eco-friendly and vegan approach, which he believes is affecting athletes’ performance. He stated that factors such as the cardboard beds and lack of air conditioning can impact athletes’ sleep and performance, and the Australian team’s portable air conditioners provide some relief. Magnussen believes that this eco-friendly mentality has gone too far and could be hindering the production of world record swims. He believes that the current environment in the Olympic village is one of the toughest for athletes to achieve their best results.
