‘Disappointed’: Athletes Shocked by the Food in the Olympic Village — Trending Videos

Many Are Leaving the Village

While trying to be green sounds like a great idea, Paris is facing some challenges because of that choice. Many top athletes are fed up with the facilities in the Games Village, and this has led to a mini exodus.

Some are ditching the official accommodations for luxury hotels. One of the biggest problems has been the cardboard beds. American tennis player Emma Navarro finds them too uncomfortable for a good night’s sleep.

Similarly, India’s Olympic champion Manu Bhaker joked about the bed size and added, “I have a very small bed… I’ll probably fall off the bed, so no, I would not take that risk.”

Even gymnastics star Simone Biles is struggling with the rough cardboard bed bases. Several clever athletes, like US gymnast Fred Richard, planned and had mattresses delivered before the games. However, this is only one of the issues.

The rooms are also too hot. Instead of air conditioners, Paris installed geothermal cooling systems to stay green. As a result, some countries like the United States, sent their athletes their own portable AC units.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, the US tennis prodigy, shared her dismay at the logistics where ten athletes have to share only two bathrooms. Most of her teammates have left because of it. However, she’s giving the village a second chance, after following the steps of other athletes.

She expressed her excitement at encountering so many remarkable Olympians in the village, including Rafael Nadal, who inspired her to stay. Gauff also remarked that if “he could do it, so could she.”

Trying to maintain a green environment is a noble approach, but it clearly comes at a cost for the people participating in the event. Furthermore, it’s not just about beds and heat; the biggest issue at the Olympic Village is the food.

The Shocking Culinary Problem

The dining hall in Paris is simply not living up to the expected standards, not only because athletes can compare the food to previous Olympics, but also because France is lauded for its excellent cuisine. The main problem seems to be the decision to opt for greener menus.

Sodexo Live, a French company, is in charge of the catering services for the Games. Their representatives said they’ve adjusted supplies based on athlete feedback and consumption patterns in the early days of the event. However, the complication persisted.

The main restaurant in the Olympic Village has reportedly had to ration certain products, such as eggs and other proteins, which these athletes desperately need. On the other hand, not all athletes have complaints about the food or the rest of the accommodations, but it’s not what they anticipated either.

Not Living up to Expectations

American gymnast Asher Hong has found some bright spots in the Olympic Village dining options despite the complaints from many. He said, “It’s not terrible. It’s just not what you would expect at the Olympic Games. You’d think that they’d bring some better chefs to kind of season the food a little bit better.”

U.S. track and field sprinter Anna Hall offered her take on the food situation, stating that she found it decent but acknowledged that many American athletes, herself included, are picky eaters. She mentioned that the US training site provides alternative meal options, so finding suitable food hasn’t been a problem.

Others have gotten creative with their meals. “I’ve been tearing up the world section, and I started to create my own hot sauces at the salad bar. So that’s helped,” US swimmer Caeleb Dressel said.

Some athletes, like American volleyball player Chiaka Ogbogu, shared their strategies for navigating the dining options. She recommended embracing “the variety” and trying different things, instead of sticking to the same meal every day, which can get boring. She approached this situation as a game of trying to discover new and interesting options within the village.

Even gymnastics superstar Biles weighed in on the food issue. At a press conference, she diplomatically stated, “OK, here’s the thing. I don’t think we’re having proper French cuisine in the village like you guys might be eating because you’re outside the village. For the athletes, it’s a little bit… healthier.”

Her teammate, Hezly Rivera, was more direct and said, “I don’t think it’s very good, at least what we’re having in the dining hall. I definitely think French food is good, but what we’re having in there, I don’t think it’s the best. But it gets the job done.”

Don’t take these athletes’ word for it. Their videos have everything you need to understand this situation. Check them out below, so you can come up with your own conclusions.

The Videos Have Gone Viral

Several athletes have posted videos of their Olympic Village meals, giving viewers a firsthand look at the food situation. US fencers Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt shared a clip captioned, “Paris @Olympics Athlete Village Food Review.”

They sampled dishes from the Asian section, including chicken tikka, sticky rice, curry beef, cauliflower, and leeks. They liked a few things more than others, but the ratings for this meal were an average of 3 stars. What’s more, Kiefer had a less-than-thrilled expression.

The Olympic couple also had the chocolate muffins that many athletes have been gushing about since the event started, and they loved it. They gave it 5 stars!

Ilona Maher, an American rugby player, posted a video addressing misconceptions about athletes’ diets. She emphasized the importance of carbs and showcased a plate with a bread roll, a croissant, and a crêpe.

Her message to viewers was, “Fuel up! Don’t stay hungry!” Listen to athletes, everyone! These are the healthiest people in the world, after all.

In another video, Kiefer and Meinhardt reviewed a halal lunch. Their meal included couscous, turkey skewers, sweet potatoes, spinach, red peppers, and mushrooms.

This time, Lee appeared much happier and gave the meal 4 stars. Although the dishes look simple in her video, the taste and the amount of nutrition they’re getting is truly what matters.

Henrik Christiansen, a Norwegian swimmer, shared his own food review as he rated various dishes. He gave the pesto pasta and the pork skewer a 7 out of 10.

Meanwhile, the chocolate muffin scored an impressive 11 out of 10, and he actually made this treat go viral. The shrimp dumplings earned an 8, but the chicken gyozas only managed a 6.

Aleah Finnegan, another American gymnast, offered a dining hall tour to her TikTok followers and her commentary on the food. The Olympic dining hall is reminiscent of a buffet-style restaurant or a large university cafeteria.

While she found the meals good, she noted they lacked seasoning, although there’s a seasoning section. Her main complaint was how crowded the dining area has become, which has led to longer wait times for food.

US swimmer Abbey Weitzeil’s video showed a different approach to the food and something many athletes have done since the games began.

She and her teammate, Phoebe Bacon, decided to “get creative” with their lunch to avoid the “scary” dining hall. They purchased ingredients from the bakery and local markets to prepare their meals in the swimming team room.

Meanwhile, Biles came in again with her perpetual positive perspective. She posted a video captioned, “Give me all the desserts,” where she enjoyed a croissant.

The video also had a popular TikTok sound, which goes, “Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now.” The gymnast gave the camera a satisfied look, so her croissant was delicious!

But it was Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders’s short video that had users half-laughing, half-shocked. The only sound in the clip goes, “You’ve disappointed me,” and the athlete mouths the words while showing a seemingly charred skewer.

Most of her followers had no idea what she was eating. One user asked if it was “a deep-fried mouse.” Another exclaimed, “What is that?!?!?! It don’t even look edible [sic].“

The guesses continued, with one user jokingly suggesting it was “a sun-dried scorpion .” Another simply stated, “Looks like rust [sic].” What do you think Saunders’ was eating?