An Olympian has finally spilled the beans on whether swimmers pee in the pool, so now we can all know once and for all.
As the Olympics continues on in Paris, the medals are being given out thick and fast with China leading the way with 7 gold medals, while Team USA have 4 golds but 26 medals overall at the time of writing.
But as the games continue, many questions are being raised about certain events and what takes place in them.
For example... Do Olympics swimmers pee in the pool?
Let's be honest, a lot of us will have peed in the water before or at the very least considered doing it.
But if you've ever felt ashamed about peeing in the pool, don't worry, because apparently Olympians do it too!
Lilly King, a three-time Olympian for Team USA, candidly told the Wall Street Journal: “I’ve probably peed in every single pool I’ve swam in, that’s just how it goes.”
Zach Harting, who represented the US at the Tokyo Olympics, shared a similar experience, recalling his first time peeing in his swimsuit during the Alabama high-school state championships.
Reflecting on the experience, he said: “The world changed for me. Every time I went to a pool after that, I only considered myself to have swam in it if I peed in it.”
This practice is not limited to elite athletes alone. According to U.S. Masters Swimming, it is common among open water swimmers as well.
“For most open water swimmers, taking a leak is part and parcel of every swim—sometimes multiple times—and we invest a good bit of time and energy into perfecting the ability to ‘go’ on the go,” the organization stated.
There is a physiological explanation for this phenomenon known as immersion diuresis.
This occurs when the body is immersed in water, causing the blood vessels in the extremities to narrow due to the cold. This reaction triggers the urge to urinate more frequently.
U.S. Masters Swimming further explained: “You may notice that you feel thirstier after an open water swim than you do after a pool swim, and that could in part be related to immersion diuresis. Listen to your thirst, and aim to stay well-hydrated before, during, and after all workouts.”
If you still aren't convinced, would you accept it from swimming legend Michael Phelps?
"I think everybody pees in the pool," he revealed per Eurosport. "It's kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers. When we're in the water for two hours, we don't really get out to pee. Chlorine kills it, so it's not bad."
If it's good enough for Olympians, then it's good enough for me.
