Coca Cola behind the finish line: This is what the swimmers at the Olympics swear by to protect themselves against bacteria from the Seine. Big nonsense or a miracle cure?
It is a rather unusual sight for professional athletes to first drink a soft drink after a strenuous competition. But at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, swimmers can often be seen enjoying a large gulp of Coke after they have barely emerged from the Seine and then crossing the finish line. However, this is not a marketing measure, but a medical measure.
Cola supposedly helps against diarrhea
Cola is often said to have a very special effect. From allegedly containing cocaine (false) to being a lifesaver for diarrhea (also false), everything is there. Now a new superpower seems to have been discovered in the sweet drink. A strong sip of cola is said to help against bacteria from the Seine.
The river is known to be one of the biggest issues at the Olympics. Despite the large-scale cleaning campaigns in the run-up to the games, the water quality is anything but appetizing. Triathletes’ training sessions have had to be cancelled several times. There is a great fear of harmful bacteria.
Olympic Games: Dissatisfaction with water quality of the Seine
The competitions are still taking place in the water – to the concern of the athletes. “I think if anyone says they are not concerned, they are probably lying,” Austrian swimmer Felix Auböck told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the cola issue.
There is particular concern about the E. coli bacteria, which can cause bloody diarrhea. Belgian triathlete Claire Michel fell ill after her individual competition because she had been infected with the bacteria. She may have caught it in the Seine.
Before the Olympics
Everything clean? Paris mayor goes swimming in the Seine
Because of such fears, New Zealander Ainsley Thorpe, for example, swears by the after-race cola. “It can’t hurt to drink a Coke after a race,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “If you google it, it says that it can help.”
Expert: Coca Cola is of no use to athletes
But is that really the case? Do athletes actually protect themselves from infections thanks to cola?
Probably not. The president of the American Association of Gastroenterologists, Dr. Maria Abreu, told the newspaper that a healthy stomach is more acidic than Coke and that the drink therefore cannot kill additional bacteria. “These are young, athletic people whose stomach acid is strong enough.”
However, sugar, which is known to be abundant in cola, does help to replenish glycogen stores after a tough race. So drinking cola is not entirely useless for athletes.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
