The Olympic Games is a global spectacle of athletic prowess, but behind the scenes, a different kind of competition is often brewing.
As athletes from around the world converge in a single location, rumours of sexual encounters have become almost as much of a staple as the medal ceremonies.
The Olympic Village, a temporary metropolis housing thousands of young, fit individuals at the peak of their physical and emotional lives, is fertile ground for romance.
In a 2018 video interview with Cosmopolitan, athletes were asked about the prevalence of sex in the Olympic Village and whether they were involved.
The most notable response came from Alpine ski racer Laurenne Ross, who, using a valley girl accent, openly addressed the topic.
She said, “I hooked up with everyone.”
John Daly, a Skeleton athlete, remarked on the frequency of hookups among athletes, attributing it to the close quarters and youthful energy in the Olympic Village.
“It happens! Incredibly good-looking [athletes], perfect bodies, tight Spandex. Of course, there’s gonna be some hooking up! Would you expect anything else!?”
While Paralympic alpine skier Andrew Kurka joked, “The condoms are Olympic strong.”
Paralympic sledge hockey athlete Rico Roman insinuated, “What happens in the Olympic Village, stays in the Olympic Village.”
Not every athlete shared explicit details about their experiences, as many were in committed relationships.
However, it appears that many athletes find ways to unwind after the demanding events of the day.
While it’s possible that some athletes are exaggerating, the distribution of around 300,000 condoms for the Olympians at Paris 2024 indicates a likely truth to these reports.
This equates to an average of two condoms per person per day.
The ongoing Paris Olympics have been making headlines for the wrong reasons, with one incident involving a triathlete vomiting ten times on live TV after swimming in the polluted Seine River during the men’s race at the 2024 Olympics.