38 Photos From The Winter Olympics That Stood Out For The Most Interesting Reasons

For most athletes, participating in the Olympics is the pinnacle of their careers, and taking home the gold is a feat they will proudly attach to themselves for the rest of their lives. Proper preparation is key, and it starts with what they eat. 

During the ongoing Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, the main dining hall served 3,400 meals per day across six food stations. It involved preparing 3,000 eggs and around 450 kilograms of pasta.

If you could guess how many calories these athletes consume daily, what would be your number? The figures may surprise you. 

Olympic great Michael Phelps consumed approximately 10,000 calories a day during his gold-medal run at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Most people see the glamor and glory in being an Olympic athlete and medalist. What many may not be aware of are the downsides that take a toll on their mental health. 

According to a 2020 study, many elite athletes experience burnout, anxiety, and depression once all the buzz calms down. Those at the tail end of their competitive careers may also feel a loss of identity as they contemplate retirement.

Those forced to cut their career short due to injury carry a much heavier burden. This was the case of Team USA rower Kate Knifton, who suffered a spine injury in 2022 that nearly ended her career. 

“Your body has a reaction from doing all this training and then suddenly doing nothing at all. I’m now more aware of having things in place for myself for one day [in the future] when I’m not rowing,” Knifton said.

Knifton says there has been a shift in terms of mental health discussions within her team, noting that everyone has become more open and vocal about their experiences. 

“People are open about seeing a therapist outside of practice. If someone has to take some time away from the sport, everyone is very understanding of that,” Knifton said.