Olympics Athletes

By: Spencer Sallee

Every four years, over 200 nations involved in 43 sports come together for the Summer Olympics. As a spectators point of view the Olympics is a time for trained athletes to present their ability in an activity, but we don’t realize the tremendous amount of stress these athletes carry. These athletes have natural talent, dedication, and heart, they devote their lives to a sport in hopes of being the best in the world. Olympic athletes train numerous hours to maintain the intense level of physical shape, an average athlete in training will spend eight hours a day seven days of the week preparing his/her body and mind. It brings the question to thought, how do they do it?

Told before they even begin, Olympian trainees know of the long excruciating battle ahead of them. With the full time job of training how do they provide for basic necessities? Sponsors.
Sponsorship is the key to survival in the Olympic world. Commercials, interviews, press conferences, all of these things can cover most of the athletes expenses. This means the coaches, facilities, gym memberships, the insane dietary meals,and not to mention the countless bottles of Advil and Icy Hot are all paid for. Sounds like a good deal right? Well only recently were the endorsements and prizes allowed. Up until the 1970’s no professional athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics, nor were sponsor money and gifts accepted. This means amateurs with free time and cash to spend were the ones placing the U.S on the gold stand!

Most Olympic athletes train four to eight years before even trying out for an Olympic team, some athletes enter the Olympic world as young as 16, this means as a kid they were putting in numerous hours for a sport they adore. The dedication these people have is a work of wonder, they have said no countless times to sleeping in, junk food, and sometimes even friends. Imagine being a 14 year old girl and having to say no to a sleep over because you have to train the very next morning! These simple games become so much more, practically even their lives. Some might argue as unhealthy to be so overwhelmed with one single activity, but you’ve got to admire their ability to compete for what they want.

Not only do I enjoy watching the Summer Olympics every four years, but it also interesting hearing about how the athletes handle the pressure and training. Some athletes have slipped under the stress into performance enhancing drugs, also known as steroids. Athletes that have been caught using these drugs have been stripped of their medals and disqualified. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) will not tolerate these actions, so you can be sure you’re favorite Olympic athlete is all natural in his/her physical strength. Drug testing occurs every year, making sure no trainees are stumbling upon these enhancers, it keeps things pure and healthy in the Olympic World. So think about all the things these athletes have done for a gold plate attached by fabric wrapping around their necks laying flat above their breast plate, it sure is impressive.