Olympic Games Paris 2024 is set to witness 10,500 athletes from across the globe compete in 16 days of world-class events spanning 32 sports. These athletes, whose rigorous training regimes started four years ago, know that getting enough sleep is crucial, especially when adjusting to new environments.
South African trail runner Ryan Sandes, known for sleeping in some of the world’s most challenging environments, underscores the importance of quality sleep. Sandes, the first to win all four of the 4 Deserts races, has slept in cow sheds, ice caves, rocky cliffs, and sandy riverbeds. His training program, which includes up to 30 hours of running and mobility cross-training weekly, emphasises consistent sleep. “To maintain peak performance, I aim for eight hours of sleep every night,” he says.
The Science of Sleep and Performance
The role of sleep in recovery cannot be overstated. Adequate sleep can enhance an athlete’s performance by up to 30 percent. Studies show that a mere two-hour sleep deficit can impair performance equivalently to a 0.05 blood-alcohol level. Athletes like Sandes and those vying for Olympic gold prioritise sleep as a key component of their regimen.
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Innovations in Sleep Solutions
Bed King, a sleep solutions expert, has innovated to help people find the perfect mattress and pillow through their Comfort Solutions Lab. Originally used in healthcare to aid patients in wheelchairs and hospital beds, pressure mapping technology now helps customers find customised support. With 1,600 built-in pressure sensors, the Lab’s bed identifies pain points and matches users to one of twelve mattresses and pillows designed for optimal support and comfort.
Travel Challenges and Solutions
Travel adds a layer of complexity to maintaining good sleep habits. Mark R. Rosekind, a former NASA scientist and current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expert, redesigned hotel rooms for athletes at the 2006 Torino Olympics. By optimising environmental factors such as light, temperature, and noise, and ensuring comfortable beds, Rosekind significantly improved athletes’ sleep quality.
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Practical Tips for Athletes on the Move
For athletes who cannot have their rooms modified, Bed King suggests travelling with a personal pillow. This ensures familiar comfort and proper support. Athletes should also be pillow-fitted to match their sleep style, whether side or back sleeping.
Eco-Friendly Sleeping at Paris 2024
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, athletes will sleep on cardboard beds designed to be eco-friendly. Despite having standard mattresses and quality quilts, noise, temperature, and light remain concerns. Many athletes pack blackout curtains and fans to create a conducive sleep environment.
READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Paris Olympics
Sandes’ Sleep Strategies
For high-performance athletes like Sandes, who will compete in the Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc, a 170km race in France, sleep training is as vital as physical training. “I practice good sleep habits daily, so I’m always ready to compete,” says Sandes. “When I travel, I arrive a week early to adjust to the local time, start my bedtime routine earlier, use eye covers, maintain regular exercise, and wake up at the same time every morning.”
