The Olympics are one of the most exclusive and prestigious sporting events, but that status doesn’t always translate to everyday life. When it comes to overnight accommodation, athletes say the atmosphere is more like a “college dorm” than a “luxury hotel.”
Curiosity about what athletes’ bedrooms actually look like reached a peak during the Tokyo Games, when social media was flooded with videos of bedrooms constructed out of cardboard. ‘Anti-sex’ bedand then again for Paris. One big controversy this year was the lack of air conditioning in the Olympic Village facilities (well, until the US team announced they would be bringing their own).
To find out what it’s really like to wake up relaxed in the historic Athletes’ Village, we reached out to Olympians and Paralympians to share how they spent their time before and after competing.
1. You’ll probably need to get to know your (new) roommate…
“Depending on the size of your team, you may be roomed with just your teammates or with athletes from other sports. I’ve roomed with baseball players, trampolinists, and rowers. It depends on the schedule. Generally there are two to a room, but some rooms are solo. There is a small living area, one or two bathrooms, and you might even see where the small kitchen will be set up after the athletes leave. Nearly all of the buildings we’ve stayed in will later be converted into actual apartments, so the layout is more like an apartment than a hotel room.” —Brady EllisonArcher who competed in Beijing in 2008, won a silver medal in London in 2012, a silver medal and a bronze medal in Rio in 2016, and competed in Tokyo in 2017. 2020
2. And maintain a pleasant relationship with them.
“We have 13 players in our team, and we’re split into groups of 7 and 6 in two apartments. We’re all together in groups of 6 or 7 for the entire two weeks. Unlike a hotel, we have a common room, like a living room, where we can all hang out together. It makes us feel like home in a way. In the evenings, we play Bananagrams and cards to kill time and relieve stress.”Maddie MusselmanWater polo player who won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 Tokyo Olympics 2020
3. Your neighbors may make it difficult for you to get a rest.
“In London, we had an Italian guy living across the street from us, and he would stay up all night drinking espresso and smoking in his courtyard. We don’t have air conditioning because the weather in England isn’t that warm. But we had a heatwave, so we had the windows open and the smoke would come in at night.”April RossA beach volleyball player who won a silver medal in London 2012, a bronze medal in Rio 2016, and a gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
4. This means you won’t get complete silence.
“I live in a dorm where I can hear things through the walls, my bed is tiny, and I share a bathroom with six other people.”Maggie StephensWater polo players who won gold medals in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020
5. Even the beds themselves are becoming green. Tall people might even get a special bed.
“I remember in Beijing they had normal beds with bed frames, but since then they’ve all been made from recycled materials, to be more environmentally conscious. The mattress is normal, but the bed frame might be made from recycled wood or cardboard. Bigger athletes, like throwers, might have special beds because they’re monsters and a 6’5″ bed isn’t enough for them.”Ellison
6. Be sure to bring all the amenities you need for sleeping.
“It’s not like going to a hotel and turning on the air conditioning or the heat or going downstairs and asking for extra pillows or more shampoo. I prepare for what I need as an athlete and as a person. I’ll bring melatonin or an eye mask because the curtains aren’t that dark. I’ll bring a fan because it’s probably going to be very hot in Paris. If I forget something, I’ll get creative and talk to my friends or talk to Team USA. They’re really helpful.”Stephens
7. There’s a super comfy Olympic quilt I’d love to own.
“In Tokyo and Rio, I was given an Olympic duvet. It was a beautiful quilt with the Olympic rings on it. Everyone took it home, but in Rio, I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t have anywhere to put it,’ so I left it there. I regretted it. I made sure to take it with me to Tokyo.”Lake MorganHigh jumper who represented Great Britain at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020
8. The tempting scents and crowds may make you doze off.
“In Rio, we had a balcony overlooking McDonald’s. The line was so long, and everyone wanted a free McDonald’s. So everyone would come onto our balcony and look out the window and see how long the line was.”lake
9. All your belongings will take up an entire room.
“At the Olympics you want to be fully prepared. You’re doing interviews and visiting sponsors’ houses, so you don’t just take your competition clothes, you take dresses and other costumes too. We each had three big bags and the room was so full we could barely move. All told, it must have been difficult to sleep in the Olympic Village in London.” -Loss
10. There Might be There are some encounters happening.
“It almost feels like it’s become this joke among Olympians where they talk about condoms. Maybe it actually happens. Maybe it does. I’ve never come across it.” —Des LindenMarathon runner who competed in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016
11. Of course there are parties, but schedules don’t allow you to enjoy them.
“In 2016 I was living in an apartment with a track and field athlete, and the next year I might be living with a swimmer who’s already finished competing. And it’s all partying. Trying to sleep while partying can be a bit tough sometimes.” —Marta Penn FrietasA middle-distance runner who represented Portugal in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
12. But with the right mindset, you can probably fall asleep.
“The beds in Tokyo were like cardboard, but they were very comfortable. I had a great night’s sleep in Tokyo. I’m grateful to have had such great roommates. The positive vibes of the people I share my room with have really contributed to this experience. It’s not perfect, but… [an] “Even if you don’t have experience, you can still get a good night’s sleep. Make the most of it.”Susanna ScaroniA Paralympic wheelchair athlete who competed in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, and won gold and bronze medals in Tokyo in 2020.
The interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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