6 Olympians answer 22 FAQs

You can pick your favourite Olympian to answer the below FAQs below or hear voices from everybody on all FAQs

Click here to start the Video

* How to improve your concentration
* What contribution can sport make to everyday life?
* How do you pass on your enthusiasm to others?
* How do you overcome your fear?
* How do you hang on to the funside of things?
* How do you get ready for a Big challenge?
* How do you set goals?
* How do you make sure you do a good job?
* How do you choose an idol, a role model, someone to imitate?
* How do you learn from failure?
* How do you loose with dignity and win with modesty?
* What are the best ways to train yourself mentally?
* How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
* How do you overcome an obstacle?
* How do you maintain your sense of fair play?
* how do you keep your self-esteem after a setback?
* How do you handle stress?
* What essential qualities do you need to succeed?
* why is team important?
* How do you resist the temptation to take forbidden substances?
* How do you deal with voilence and aggression?
* How do you visualise your dream and make it come true?

Become a Career Olympian!

You may not be a professional sportsman, but here are 10 tips to become a Career Olympian.
Article by Michelle Yozzo Drake, CEO, Cove Group

1. Create a "life skills" line: Record everything you know how to do - from birth until the present - and all the skills required to do them. What have you excelled at? (And they don't have to be just work-related...you'd be surprised how the skills you have in your hobbies translate into success into the workplace.)

2. Make a "life activity" line (layer it right over your "life skills" line). Identify the activies at work and at home that you enjoy doing. If your skill is problem-solving, activities you might like are troubleshooting at work or working on your car's engine. A career that is satisfying and challenging with incorporate some of those skills and activities.

3. Rate your enjoyment and aptitude of each entry on your line: 1 if you're excellent at it and love doing it; 5 if it's one of your weaker areas or if you wouldn't want to do it for more than a few hours. And with this info, you're going to then...

4. Create a clear picture in your mind of your next 5 career moves (they're not set in stone!). They could be in order and progressing up through your organization, or they could be lateral moves into other organizations or industries. Plotting out these career moves starts to set you up with a strategy for career advancement (and we all know how much I LOVE strategy!).

5. Map out opportunities within your organization. You got those 5 career moves in your head - where are they in your organization? Create a "treasure map" that you can follow, leading you to each of those 5 career moves. Who's holding those jobs now? What are your chances of earning that position? If there's a star blocking your route of advancement (think Don Draper of "Mad Men") who shows no signs of budging, then you should first do everything in your power to succeed and prove your worth in your current position (a shift all the way up line might occur) or you might want to consider moving to another company, which leads me to...

Details of below key points can be found on Michelle's blog

6. Map opportunities outside your organization.
7. Assess people in higher levels of your organization.
8. Make a list of people who would help you if they knew your career aspirations.
9. Use an interview as an excuse to go and speak to someone who has the job that you want.
10. Join an industry organization.

Michael Phelps to write new book

Olympic superstar Michael Phelps will write a book telling the story behind his historic eight gold medal swims just in time for the holiday season, Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced Friday.

In "Built to Succeed," Phelps will also cover his philosophy on training and competition, as well as his life being raised by a single mother and coping with an attention-deficit disorder, the publisher said.

The book is scheduled to be released in December.

Phelps, 23, became the winningest Olympian ever at this summer's Beijing games, winning eight golds to add to six previous Olympic first-place victories. He holds seven world records.

Beauty Secrets of Olympians

Find out how swimmers Natalie Coughlin and Katie Hoff stay chic—in and out of the water

Olympians Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin are used to being in the spotlight—after all, their swimming performances in Beijing have been flashed across millions of television screens across the globe. Over the past weeks, the athletes' glowing appearances (even amid the stress and strain of competition) have had many women wondering about their beauty secrets. Luckily, we recently had a chance to ask the athletes about their beauty routines. Here's what the ladies had to reveal:

Katie Hoff

Q. How do you stay hydrated during your travels?
I always bring Burt’s Bee’s chapstick with me on flights, because my lips always get dry when traveling. And I don’t always like the taste of water, so I drink diluted Juicy Juice during training and when I travel.

Q. Do you have any beauty rituals before bedtime, or maybe before training sessions or performances?
I don’t wash my hair every day, and I use Victoria Secret So Sexy conditioner for dry/damaged hair and Aloe Rid shampoo. I’ve been using both for a while and they really work—especially since I'm always in chlorine. For moisturizer, I use Lubriderm, then apply two concealers: Studio Tech and Mineralized Skin Finish Natural by MAC. I also always make sure I wash my face before I go to bed.

Natalie Coughlin

Q. How do you keep your makeup on throughout your performances?
I don't wear anything when I compete other than sunscreen. I like to use Kinesys SPF 15, which is a super-lightweight spray-on sunscreen.

Q. How do you stay hydrated during your travels?
I always have water with me. Although I love my caffeine, I try to limit it when I'm traveling—especially on longer international flights. Also, I like bringing my favorite herbal teas for some added comfort on the road.

Q. Do you have any beauty rituals before you bedtime, or maybe before training sessions or performances?
I ALWAYS have to wash my face before bed. No matter what. Since I'm in the sun so much, I've been really proactive with the anti-aging products. I started using Prevage a few months ago and really like the results. I use that before bed along with DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew. Before I train I always use Kinesys sunscreen. And after my workout I like to use Oil of Olay oil-free moisturizer for combination skin in SPF 15.

Source:http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Beauty/Beauty-Secrets-of-Olympians.html/?cid=226

Beijing Olympics: What lessons can we learn from Britain's gold rush?

London House can be found in Beijing’s bar district, alongside places called Sip and Purple, drinking dens so Westernised they might well have been airlifted in from Shoreditch.

Slick and sharp, all minimalist fittings and designer script on the menus, the venue has acted as a night-time haunt for the British during these games, a little Notting Hill home from home, a place where you can happily forget you are in China at all.

On Thursday, after nearly a fortnight of Olympian precision and perfect time-keeping, 14 days in which you could set your watch on the departure of your bus, or the start of the second heat in the women’s 75kg Greco-Roman wrestling, London House was hosting the only function in Beijing that was running late. Boris Johnson was in town, scheduled to address the media about London’s plans for the 2012 Olympics.

The mayor was due to begin at 5pm, and by 5.30pm there was no sign of him. Bustling PR people fluffed around oozing self-importance; administrators from the LDA or the BOA or LOCOG or any one of the alphabet soup of organisations running London 2012 talked anxiously on their mobiles; a worried-looking Sloane with a clipboard checked her list to see if he might have slipped in unnoticed. And as you watched and waited, you thought: if only British sports people could be put in charge of 2012, if only Rebecca Adlington, Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie were running the thing, all would be well. Because these are people we can rely on.

Full Story

Q & A: Physiology golden for Phelps and Bolt, expert says

Roberto Quintana has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and is the director of the Human Performance Lab at California State University, Sacramento. He spends much of his day studying athletes, so he's not easy to impress.

We asked him to reflect on the Beijing Olympics and the achievements of swimmer Michael Phelps (eight gold medals, seven world records) and sprinter Usain Bolt (gold medals and world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.)

Michael Phelps has amazed sports fans. Did he impress you as a sports scientist?

For him to go through that many events and win eight gold medals, it's just mind-boggling. For what he's accomplished, it requires a lot of mental focus.

What happens to the body after a hard effort like the 200-meter butterfly?

He has to make sure he's rested. He has to replace the glycogen he used. The glycogen allows his muscles to perform at a very high level. We know from research that if your glycogen stores are compro- mised even a little bit, it alters the amount of force you're able to generate by the muscle.

How about the records?

I'm not so impressed with the world records. A lot of that was with the swimsuit.

Then there's Usain Bolt. Might he be a sprinter for the ages?

What he has done is mind-boggling because the technology in running really hasn't changed. We don't have a suit that cheats the wind.

Phelps and Bolt are both great athletes, but they're a little bit different. Considering that most of the 100- and 200-meter (track) races are won by hundredths of a second, he beat everyone by 0.6 seconds in the 200. That's the equivalent of Michael Phelps winning by a whole lap. We probably won't see anything like that again for 20 or 30 years.

When you first saw Bolt as a sports fan and as a scientist, what did you think?

I was in awe. Usually larger individuals like that (Bolt is 6-foot-5) take a while to accelerate. The crazy thing about him is he can accelerate very quickly like the smaller runners. But he's like Carl Lewis in that he can hit a very high speed. Lewis was limited because he needed about 70 or 80 meters to hit top speed and separate himself from the field. Usain Bolt is hitting his peak speed at around 50 meters.

He seems to have come out of nowhere.

This year, something must have happened in his training to elevate his game in this way.

Are you suspicious at all?

Full Story

The thinker and the swimmer are making lists and thinking of London

WHAT more can Michael Phelps do? With eight gold medals from the Beijing Games, a career tally of 14 and a pot of endorsement gold in the offing what more is there for him to achieve?

Well, plenty, according to his coach Bob Bowman. When he left Beijing yesterday, he already had a sizeable list.

The rest of the world may have watched in awe as the 23-year-old American put together a seemingly flawless Olympic campaign, but Bowman examined the greatest Olympic performance in history with a more critical eye.

Phelps is still being mobbed every time he puts his head up in Beijing (he has acquired a full-time security detail), his agents have put him on a pedestal with Tiger Woods, but Bowman is already thinking about the next four years culminating in London 2012.

At the top of his list is getting another crack at the 200m butterfly. Phelps' goggles filled with water during that race in Beijing, affecting his vision, and he only narrowly bettered his own world record, clocking a new standard of 1:52.03.

Bowman says that time could have been 1:50, "and if he takes a shot at it on its own (without a heavy competition program around it) it could be 1:49".

The 100m butterfly is also a target. It was Phelps' last individual event in Beijing and his performance was affected by fatigue. He still clocked 50.58sec, but Bowman believes Phelps can be the first man under 50 seconds for the event (the current world record is 50.40sec).

Bowman will abide by his promise to Phelps that he can drop the 400m individual medley after Beijing, having set a towering world record of 4:03.84, although the coach thinks that could have been faster too.

Full Story

Eat. Sleep. Swim.

Athletic history has been re-written as Michael Phelps tore through the Olympic Games winning an unprecedented eight gold medals.

What kind of life allows such a pinnacle of success? When asked to describe a typical day, Phelps has repeatedly told journalists that his routine involves just three things: “eat, sleep, swim.”

And from that simple response, the phrase “eat, sleep, swim” has become iconic, showing up on t-shirts and athletic wear around the world.

As I have joined millions around the world in watching the Olympic Games, inspired by the dedication the athletes have brought to this moment of competition, a nagging feeling kept invading – one that almost made me feel guilty for being unpatriotic or simply a poor sport.

“They’ve given their lives for this?”

Sure, Phelps is a millionaire and will be joined by such figures as Dara Torres on the motivational circuit and, if they so desire, for broadcast duties for future Olympic Games. Many will go home to marketplace careers that have nothing to do with their competitions, yet answer deeply fulfilling vocational calls. Many will run to the arms of loving spouses and children. Others will begin university studies that have been put on hold.

But they may be the exceptions to the rule.

Full Story:http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/JWhite/11580772/

Getting Better With Age: Dive In

DARA TORRES, the 41-year-old Olympic swimmer with the impossibly chiseled abs who collected three silver medals in Beijing, has proved at the elite level that getting older doesn’t mean getting slower in the water. But put her aside for now.

Even outside the elite ranks, the 40-something (and older) swimmer of today is faster than the 40-something of yesteryear.

Researchers at the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming at Indiana University found that the population of Masters swimmers (made up of 42,500 members ages 18 to 100-plus) has gotten faster over the last 20 years in age groups from 25 to 55, said Joel Stager, the center’s director.

Why is that? They are applying better skills.

“Technique trumps training,” Dr. Stager said. “Water is the great equalizer.”

Chief among the reasons for the speediness, say coaches, researchers and swimmers themselves, are improved stroke mechanics and training methods emphasizing intensity over distance. This is good news for those who like to race, and for those taking to the water for fitness at any age.

As they age, people lose muscle mass and cardiovascular capacity, which declines by 1 to 1.5 percent annually. But for regular exercisers, the rate of decline is slower, researchers say.

“Before, it was thought that athletes peak at 25,” said Scott Trappe, the director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University. But now the paradigm is shifting. “People are paying attention to their own fitness and nutrition.”

Swimmers can compensate for the body’s decline mostly because the water rewards those who are more technically proficient, and because the sport is non-weight-bearing and enables prolonged participation. “People can and do get faster, despite the fact that they may be 10, 20 years older than when they first started,” Dr. Stager said.

Here are five competitive Masters swimmers, ages 40 and well beyond, who help prove that.

Kicking Like Flipper
Kristin Gary swam at Duke University in the late 1980s but tired of the long workouts. Now, Ms. Gary, 40, has recaptured the joy by swimming for the Red Tide, a Masters swim team in New York.

Her personal best for the 100-yard backstroke is now 59.47 seconds; in college, it was 1:00.07.

Her coach, Eric Mitchell, attributes her improvement in part to her ability to execute the dolphin kick, an underwater kick that was not allowed when she was in college. Swimmers can now use the kick up to 15 yards underwater in competition, on turns and after dives off the blocks. They gain power from the legs moving in concert with the body, which undulates like a dolphin. (Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin are experts at it.)

Fitness swimmers don’t need the dolphin kick, though it’s fun to try a trick from an Olympian’s playbook. Those who want to be faster may find it useful, but it depends on how skilled a person is, said Mr. Mitchell, who makes teaching it a priority and said it requires core strength and flexibility.

Hand and Arm Techniques
Stanley Shechter, 75, is still trying to master the dolphin kick, finding an alternating-leg flutter kick more effective. But he discovered that hand positioning after diving into the water can help shave time. He practiced at Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (where he belongs to the Masters team), placing one hand over the other, fingers together to eliminate drag, the way Patrick Cantrell, his coach, instructed.

Mr. Shechter straightened his arms, keeping them close to his ears, and held the pose underwater. “It’s tough to hold your arms for that long,” he said. “But it works.”

He attributes his improvement to practicing five days a week, mindful not to go too far. That approach, too, represents training filtered down from many elite programs. Coaches and swimmers have discovered that less is sometimes more, especially in events no longer than 100 yards. In 2003, Mr. Shechter swam the 100-meter freestyle at the Masters national meet in 1:23.46. In May, he won the 75- to 79-year-old division at the nationals in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:12.67.

That’s the Spirit
When improving performance, the psychological lift cannot be ignored. Tracy Grilli, 51, believes setting goals as a team makes a marked difference. Ms. Grilli is the administrator at the United States Masters Swimming national office in Londonderry, N.H., and belongs to a local team. But her Mighty Mermaids team is made up of friends averaging age 50 from New Jersey, California and Virginia.

To prepare for an open-water swim in July, Ms. Grilli charted their individual yardage online, for a virtual swim up the Mississippi River. “It is the people I swim with that make the difference,” she said. “I could swim alone and say, ‘I’m tired.’ That’s not going to make me swim any faster.”

Turning Back the Clock
Not every swimmer over 40 can set records. For many, being fit is as much a goal as being fast.

Andy Weiss has thick white hair and a chest scar from bypass surgery but looks younger than his 87 years. “A lot of people call me a freak,” said Mr. Weiss, who swims an hour three days a week at Asphalt Green, where he is a Masters team member. “After swimming I feel wonderful.”

He won two silver medals and a gold medal at the May nationals, but says he enjoys the water’s revitalizing power. His tips for improving?

“Don’t smoke, get a good coach, get enough sleep, a full eight hours,” he said, before adding with a laugh: “And don’t get older.”

Aging has not hampered Marie Kelleher. She swims four days a week at a Y.M.C.A. in Richmond, Va., logging a half-mile each day, alternating strokes for 30 minutes of laps. At 95, she won her age group at a regional Masters meet in February, with a time of 3:02.75 in the 100-yard freestyle. “I started swimming because I wanted to keep in shape,” she said. “As long as I can drive myself to the pool, I am going to keep swimming.”

She was impressed, if not inspired, by Ms. Torres. “How old is she again?” Ms. Kelleher asked.
When told 41, she laughed and said: “Well, I’m more than twice her age.”

Source:http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080821/ZNYT04/808210309&title=Getting_Better_With_Age__Dive_In

24-karat tips from America's Olympic hopefuls

Visualize success

Kara Goucher, 30
Portland, Oregon

Sport:
Track and field
"On hard days, I picture myself crossing the finish line and being elated. You have no idea how many times I've already 'won' the gold!"








Make your own rules

Dara Torres, 41
Parkland, Florida

Sport: Swimming
Last August, 23 years after her Olympic debut, the new mom broke the American record in the 50-meter freestyle. The message she wants to send to her daughter: "Don't put an age limit on your dreams."







Sculpt sexy shoulders

Candace Parker, 22
Los Angeles

Sport: Basketball
This past spring, after winning her second NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Parker joined the WNBA, where she plays for the Los Angeles Sparks. To stay fit on the road, the 6-foot-4-inch hoopster works out in her hotel room. "I lie facedown on the bed and 'swim' freestyle and breaststroke to strengthen my back and shoulders," she says.





Downsize your thighs

Becca Ward, 18
Portland, Oregon

Sport: Fencing
Want the secret to a toned, honed lower half? Ask a fencer. "Our lead leg gets so strong," says Ward, who strengthens (and evens out) her thighs with twisting walking lunges: Holding one 10-pound weight at chest level in both hands, lunge forward with right leg; with right thigh parallel to floor, knee over ankle, twist torso right. Return to standing. Repeat on left. Do 10 reps.



De-stress in an instant

Shawn Johnson, 16
West Des Moines, Iowa

Sport: Gymnastics
"I listen to calming music to help stay focused and to keep my butterflies at a minimum. Kate Nash is my favorite."









Enjoy sweet satisfaction

Katie Hoff, 19
Towson, Maryland

Sport:Swimming
"For a quick snack, I love [Hostess] 100-calorie mini-muffin packs. You know how many calories they have, so you don't have to worry about overeating," Hoff says. Her other eat-sweets-and-still-stay-slim strategy? "I try to keep my splurges to once a week," she says. "I like to split a piece of Oreo cheesecake with a friend. Delish!"






Perform under pressure

Abby Wambach, 28
Hermosa Beach, California

Sport: Soccer
"Whatever I do, I do to the best of my ability. Knowing that takes stress out of the outcome."








Save your skin from the sun

Deena Kastor, 35
Mammoth Lakes, California

Sport: Track and field
"I take skin care very seriously," says Kastor, who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic marathon a year after being treated for stage II melanoma on her shoulder and right arm. "You need more than a pair of shoes to run: a cap, sun-protective clothing and generous amounts of sunscreen. I like Neutrogena SPF 70."




Tighten and tone your tummy

Kerri Walsh, 30
Hermosa Beach, California

Sport: Beach volleyball
Running and jumping on the sand for up to three hours a day is one way to sculpt muscles, but the 6-foot-3-inch Walsh's sexy midsection could be courtesy of pilates, which she practices three times a week. "It makes you more flexible, so you're stronger and more stable, too." Her prized move: the Teaser. Lie faceup, arms overhead on floor. Roll torso up as you extend legs to 45 degrees, reaching hands toward toes. Return to start; repeat three times.



Find your inner motivation

Allyson Felix, 22
Los Angeles

Sport: Track and field
"I'm not superstitious, but before each race, I pray that I'll represent God well. That's what it's all about for me," Felix says. "But a gold would be nice, too!"











Face your greatest fear

Haley Ishimatsu, 15
Indianapolis

Sport: Diving
"I'm actually scared of heights," confesses Ishimatsu, who regularly dives off a 10-meter platform. "Doing a dive gives me something else to think about. If I have to just jump straight off? I can't do that!"






Give back to your body

Jessica Mendoza, 27
Camarillo, California

Sport: Softball
"Post-workout, I refuel with a banana, peanut butter and berry smoothie. It's very sustaining."










Source:http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/slideshows/2008/07/0721olympics_slides?slide=1

2 minutes stride guide Video

Good form makes running easier. Try these tips from two-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers to put more spring in your step.

Having trouble viewing the video? Check to see if you have the latest versions of Real Media Player or Windows Media installed.

What ordinary cyclists can learn from Chris Hoy

Britain's cycling heroes in Beijing were a class apart, but they showed techniques that anyone who rides a bike - whatever their ability - can benefit from.

The past few years has seen a boom in cycling in the UK, with one in four regularly getting on the saddle according to Cycling England - to get to work, enjoy the countryside or race for clubs.

Reaching speeds of 70 km/hr is not advisable, of course (let alone achievable for most riders). Elite cyclists like Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton are more concerned with speed than safety and comfort, which are two key considerations for non-competitive cyclists, but there are lessons to be learnt.

BE AWARE OF THE SLIPSTREAM
Television viewers will have seen compatriots in the road races taking it in turns to go in front, and cyclists in the sprint events playing cat and mouse at the start of the race. That's because there is an energy saving of up to 30% for the cyclist that tucks in behind.Jonny Clay, bronze medallist in the team pursuit at the Sydney Games in 2000, says: "In front you are punching the hole in the air and what's created behind you is drag, a vortex of air which means you have less effort to put in. But your front wheel has to be within a foot of the rear wheel of the rider in front."

Cycling on the UK's busy streets is hazardous enough without riders trying to get right up behind the cyclist in front. But it is a principle that can be used on open roads when appropriate.

"The bigger the group you're riding in, the bigger benefit you will derive, even more than 30% in a large group," says Mr Clay. "But in terms of recreational cyclists, we don't want people falling off because they are riding too close.

"People must pay attention to traffic and road junctions, but you do see some commuters riding into work who may be more experienced riding together and riding behind one another."

PEDAL EFFICIENTLY
Notice how smoothly the Olympians pedal with a full motion throughout the revolution, which means their bodies don't rock, says Mr Clay. If the pedals were a clockface, then many cyclists make the mistake of pushing down only from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock, which is inefficient.

"What cyclists need to think about is trying to create power through the full cycle if possible, not just pushing down. Most bikes now come with a pedal clip and a toe-strap and can produce a more even spread of power.

"The foot clicks in like on a ski and the ball of the foot should be on the central axis of the pedal."

USE GEARS SENSIBLY
Track cyclists in Beijing have no gears or brakes. Their mechanics can change their gears in between heats. But the bikes in the road races have between 18 and 20 gears.

Ordinary cyclists often make the mistake of using the big gears but that's not efficient as the legs push more slowly, says Mr Clay.

"There's an optimum gear to use depending on your speed and conditions - a headwind or tailwind, up and downhill. Feel is very important, and practice."

STAND UP WHEN YOU NEED TO

As Victoria Pendleton mounted the attack that won her a gold medal in the sprint, viewers saw her lift herself off the saddle to apply more power to her pedalling. It's a tactic that all cyclists can use, but they should use it sparingly, maybe when accelerating away from traffic lights or going uphill.

Jim Riach, education manager at Cycling Scotland, says: "Standing up means you can change your position. It's more effort but when you're starting to feel uncomfortable you can stand up, usually when riding uphill. Some people prefer to sit down and pedal and they could be more effective doing that."

LOOK BEHIND YOU
Just like the track sprinters who watch every move of the rider behind, so cyclists on UK roads should look behind them regularly, says Paul Robertshaw, a cycle trainer at Birmingham City Council and a triathlon coach.

"The track cyclists and sprinters look behind while in front, to look for any move and to make sure they don't miss anything. Even at that level, the golden rule of cycling of looking behind them is a great skill to acquire."

Cyclists on the road should glance over their shoulder before undertaking any manoeuvre, whether passing a parked car or a junction, and before committing to a turn.

Experienced riders tend to look at the eyes of drivers and check they have been seen.

PLAN AHEAD
There is a support team of 70 behind the 14 Olympic competitors. Besides the coaches, there are psychiatrists, scientists, masseurs, engineers, designers and nutritionists.

It's a level of planning that makes your head hurt, but even recreational cyclists can benefit from thinking ahead, says Mr Robertshaw.

"If you're going off on a bike ride at the weekend, spend a bit of time planning where you're going. Birmingham, like many councils, produces a map of the city with all the bike paths, cycle-friendly roads, all the parks that have cycle paths.

"It's very easy for 10 or 15 minutes to come up with a route that's more fun or way into work that avoids the dual carriageways."

Writing down personal goals such as personal fitness or finding enjoyable routes will also help, says Mr Riach.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY
The Olympians wear a combination of Lycra and Gore-tex, which is much thinner than normal Lycra and is equipped with special padding, says Elaine Andersen of Hike, Bike and Ride. Although their gear is specially made, forms of it do reach the High Street.

"People behind the likes of Rebecca Romero develop the technology and then brands like Endura and Polaris buy a licence to use it to produce a product. And as the technology moves on, the price does come down."

In the autumn, the big thing will be bamboo base layers, with a two-piece retailing at about £25, says Ms Andersen.

Helmets reduce the risk of head injuries, but while the "aerohelmets" in Beijing were specially made, most in the shops are very similar on the inside, says Ms Andersen - what costs more is the design and the branding.

Not everyone wants to wear all the gear, so what might they be missing out on?

It's about comfort as much as performance, she says.

"There's nothing worse than doing a five-mile cycle ride in a pair of jeans, especially when it's hot or raining. The advantage to wearing proper gear is that you can cycle in any weather. And it dries very quickly, but cycle to work in a pair of jeans and you will be wet all day."

Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7571882.stm

Olympians Adopt Compression Apparel Technology and Break World Records

Compression Apparel helps Olympians break more world records than the previous two Summer Olympics combined. A start-up company called Zensah® has created seamless compression clothing, making their compression clothing a more ergonomic fit for athletes.

The Summer Olympics in Beijing will be remembered for many years to come as the Olympics that shattered records like as easily as throwing a glass from the Great Wall of China. Olympians broke 74 Olympic records and 36 world records, and with 4 days left in the Olympics, the toll will surely rise. More records have been broken at the Beijing Olympics than the two previous Olympics combined hosted in Sydney, and Athens respectively. Today, athletes are better prepared from their training to their diet, to the clothing they wear. The dream of competing at the Olympics is bestowed upon a chosen few. While an event at the Olympics may last a few minutes, or even a few seconds, the time, dedication, and preparation can last a generation.

One of the best kept secrets among Olympians are the benefits of compression apparel in post workout recovery. Doctors have know for years the benefits of compression, which include increased blood circulation, muscle warmth, and reduction of muscle vibration. It is no coincidence that the swimsuits used to shatter multiple world records incorporated compression technology.

Over the past few years a number of performance apparel company's have been promoting the benefits of using compression clothing technology after a workout. The science behind this claims that using compression clothing after a workout an athlete increases oxygen blood flow to the muscles that is desperately needed by fatigued muscles.

By reducing recovery time an athlete can push their limits farther. Companies such as Nike, adidas, and Under Armour have promoted cut-and-sew compression technology. A start-up company called Zensah® (http://www.zensah.com) has created seamless compression clothing, making their compression clothing a more ergonomic fit. Zensah® uses proprietary technology, and claims that they are 2 years ahead of their competitors. Another difference is that Zensah® uses pinpoint compression tailoring to the physiological needs of an athlete.

Running legend, and 1972 Olympian Jeff Galloway said, "The Zensah® leg sleeve could speed up your performance and reduce recovery time. According to research and runner reports compression sleeves improve performance of the most important muscle for running -- the calf muscle. The Zensah® leg sleeve is the only calf sleeve which incorporates pin point compression to the calf area. I recommend it for use when traveling on flights to and from a marathon."

"Our compression clothing has a more ergonomic fit, has specially engineered compression zones, and is far more comfortable than any other compression clothing on the market," Ryan Oliver, Director of Marketing of Zensah, stated brashly. "We allow athletes to focus on their training, and competition not on their clothing."

Zensah® uses pinpoint compression to target different muscle groups. Helping reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) commonly caused by sitting for long hours on an airplane. Olympians who wear compression clothing going to Beijing can assure that they will be ready for the games.

"There is no question that with the success of Olympic athletes it will raise the awareness of the benefits of compression clothing. We believe that Zensah® will benefit greatly since our technology is superior. Athletes always are looking for that edge, and Zensah® has that qualitative advantage," said Ryan Oliver.

Source:http://www.prweb.com/releases/olympics/compression/prweb1234594.htm

Scots deer are giving up prize assets to aid China's Olympians

Highland deer are prized as 'the most virile

in the world.' Picture: Getty

FROM deep within the glens, Scotland's gamekeepers are supplying a secret ingredient which may explain why China's athletes have surged to the top of the Olympics gold-medal table.

Gamekeepers reveal today for the first time that they are exporting a secret weapon to China – the "pizzle" from Scottish deer.

Athletes use the male animal's sexual organ to boost stamina and for its alleged anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant and injury-healing properties.

Deputations of Chinese pizzle traders have been visiting the Highlands to view the deer, regarded as the most virile in the world, and have been training Scottish game dealers on how to process the parts for export.

The deer is a symbol of health and longevity in oriental medicine, with the first mention of their by-products noted more than 2,000 years ago.

Alastair Lyon, 42, head keeper on the Ralia and Milton Estate, confirmed the trade was part of the gamekeeping world. He said: "Stalkers sell off all the bits and the game dealer takes the carcase."

More than 100,000 deer out of an estimated 750,000 in Scotland are culled each year to prevent the herd and other animals starving to death.

Christian Nissen, managing director of Highland Game, venison and game dealers in Dundee, whose company received training from the Chinese, said: "The meetings with the Chinese have been one of the most interesting negotiations I have ever had.

"Every processor has the responsibility to attempt to sell as much of the carcase as possible.

"The pizzles are creating an extra income for the estate, just like the meat."

The pizzles, which are frozen or dried before export, are rich in protein, vitamins, calcium, magnesium and hormones and low in cholesterol.

Pizzles can be consumed in various ways – defrosted and eaten; mixed with alcohol, which is then drunk; served in soup; or dried and made into capsules or a paste.

One of the many Chinese athletes who use old-style remedies is Yao Ming, the star basketball player who said in April he would use traditional medicine to aid his recovery from ankle surgery. He said: "There is no reason to dismiss it. It's been used in our country for thousands of years."

Katrina Candy, head of media and education at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust in Scotland, said: "This is another example of how sought-after Scottish game is and how every part of the beast is useful and nothing goes to waste."

Finlay Clark, secretary of the Association of Deer Management Groups, an independent body representing those who manage Scotland's deer populations, said: "I have never tried it, but if there are any Scots athletes who want to give it a go I'm sure we could arrange it. However, I'm sure our gold medals have been won by sheer dedication and hard work."

Source:http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Scots-deer-are-giving-up.4411987.jp

China pump billions into producing golden generation of Olympians

The secret of China's Olympic success can be revealed: Money. And lots of it. There is no magic formula beyond big numbers.

Moulding them early: Chinese children practise their discipline from a young age at sports schools. Photo: Reuters

China has thrown millions of people and billions of dollars at producing a golden generation of Olympians.

Athletes are fed into an elite tier from specialist sports schools across the country, where children as young as six spend five hours a day perfecting their chosen disciplines. Every last child believes he or she is furthering the cause of China by excelling individually.

The model contrasts sharply with the British experience where sport is an informal business. In China it is strategic funded jointly by state and private cash. It is rare, for example, to see children playing football or any other sport in public spaces outside a club environment.

Athletes train in well-equipped, high-tech facilities, re-inforced by a dedicated support staff of coaches, medics and nutritionists. China will finish these Games with more than 50 gold medals, almost double that of the traditional standard bearer, the United States.

From table tennis to badminton, diving to gymnastics, excellence is fostered at key centres across this vast nation. Think cycling in Britain and multiply the effect across a range of Olympic disciplines.

Duoba, in central China, is said to be one of the finest high altitude training bases in the world. Formerly a huge military warehousing complex, the site was acquired by the Qinghai sports authority in 1982. More than £150 million was spent over the next 20 transforming it into a frontline facility for a raft of sports, including martial arts, swimming, shooting and athletics.

Qiandao Lake in eastern China was identified eight years ago as an ideal site to develop the national rowing facility ahead of the Athens Olympics. The Zhejiang Sports Bureau poured £4 million into the venture turning it into world class canoeing and rowing venue.

In Lin Dan, China has best badminton player on earth. Every trick he pulled to land Olympic gold in Beijing was learned at the Jinjiang Sports Complex in Fujan Province. The facility was built in 2002 with money from ex-pat Chinese, when badminton was on the floor in the country. Since then they have won world titles in men's and women's singles and women's doubles. The players benefit from the unique practice of training in a pool full of a quartz sand. It helps improve movement and flexibility, apparently.

China pumped £50 million into a new football facility in Hongta, Yunnan Province. Completed in 2001 it boasts 11 full size pitches plus four indoor sports halls and is the base used by the national team.

It is the same story in Zhangzhou, the volleyball base, Zhengding, the centre of excellence for table tennis, and Jiangmen, the national tennis centre, about to acquire 12 new courts.

Set in this context, taking account of how the global sporting deck is stacked, Britain's performance at these Games is a miracle.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2590136/China-pump-billions-into-producing-golden-generation-of-Olympians---Beijing-Games.html

Gold medalist learned from the best in East St. Louis

By Helene Elliott - Ask Dawn Harper where she's from and she will say East St. Louis, Ill., a city notorious for its hopeless poverty and tragic blight.

She actually grew up in nearby Belleville, in a secure home with caring parents. But it was in East St. Louis that she came to know the person who taught her she could negotiate any hurdle, not only those laid out on a 100-meter course.

Harper was a youngster when she met Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who had emerged from East St. Louis to be crowned an Olympic champion three times and medalist six times but returned to open a community center for kids.

Harper, a six-time state hurdles champion, was coached in high school by Nino Fennoy, who had coached Joyner-Kersee. And like Joyner-Kersee, Harper believed that track and field would be her ticket to a good education and rewarding life.

"She was a big influence," Harper said. "I remember just sitting in the track club and she would sit down and have talks with us and tell us, 'Go for your dream. Never give up on yourself.' "

Harper followed Joyner-Kersee's path to UCLA, graduating in 2006. She also followed Joyner-Kersee's lead by choosing Joyner-Kersee's husband, Bobby, to coach her.

And on Tuesday she followed Joyner-Kersee to the top step of an Olympic podium. It's a destination few believed she would reach, especially after she had arthroscopic knee surgery in February and made the U.S. Olympic team by seven thousandths of a second.

Ignoring her jitters and the gasps generated when leader and seemingly certain winner Lolo Jones stumbled over the next-to-last hurdle, Harper won the gold medal in a personal-best 12.54 seconds. She couldn't believe it at first, or for hours afterward.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," she said. "I have the medal and I'm holding it but it's so surreal. It's a blessing.

"It's going to hit me maybe in the morning and I'm going to cry, thanking God."

Jones did her crying on the track at the Bird's Nest Tuesday, bemoaning the fates that led her to take such an ill-timed misstep. She wasn't alone in her misfortune.

In the preceding race, the women's 400, overwhelming favorite Sanya Richards faded from first to third when her right hamstring tightened and consigned her to run as if mired in quicksand.

At least Richards won a medal, finishing in 49.93 seconds, behind Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu (49.62) and Jamaica's Shericka Williams (49.69). Jones finished seventh.

Sally McLellan of Australia and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada won the silver and gold behind Harper, each timed in 12.64 seconds. Damu Cherry of the U.S. was fourth, at 12.65.

"You hit a hurdle about twice a year where it affects your race. It's a shame it happened in the biggest race of my life," Jones said.

"It's hurdles. You have to be over all 10 or you're not meant to be the champion. Today I was not meant to be the champion."

Harper won Tuesday despite recording the seventh-best reaction time in the eight-woman field. For igniting the spark that fueled her steady, strong finish, she can thank Kersee, whom she has known since she was in junior high.

"Dawn was struggling with this moment for a long time," he said. "Last summer me and her had a knockdown, drag-out argument after the world championships because I thought she could make the world championships team, but she lost focus.

"Jackie talked to her last summer. Then last summer she went through the European season for the first time, and that's when she broke through and started running 12.60s. She came back this year believing she could make the Olympic team and win an Olympic medal, particularly gold."

Jeanette Bolden, who doubles as UCLA's track coach and head coach of the women's Olympic team, recalled watching Harper push herself to recover from knee surgery while a Bruin.

"It doesn't matter who people predict supposedly to win if you have faith and confidence in yourself. Dawn's always had a lot of confidence in herself," Bolden said. "She's just had a lot of ups and downs in her career.

"Good things do happen to good people."

The previous Olympic 100-meter hurdles champion was also a UCLA alumna: Joanna Hayes, Harper's training partner. They followed in the spike prints of Gail Devers, who had a remarkable career as a Bruin hurdler and sprinter and won three world hurdles titles and two Olympic 100-meter dash gold medals.

All of them have Joyner-Kersee to thank for showing them the way.

Joyner-Kersee didn't make the trip to Beijing, but she sent Harper an encouraging e-mail. "She told me to stay focused and run your race," Harper said.

Nothing profound there, but her work had already been done years ago, when she inspired a young girl to follow her dreams and her heart to a destiny that seems more fitting by the second.

Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/chi-080819-olympics-harper-hurdles,0,7755507.story

What was Michael's Target before every swim

His sight was only on No. 1 and nothing else

Your Road to the Olympic Rider

Steps to Becoming an Olympic Rider

Riders usually start out by being involved with Pony Club, 4-H or other local riding organizations. You may also compete in local schooling shows and open show circuits or be part of a highschool or college team. A good coach will be essential to coach you through these competitions. Each state or province will have its official organization that organizes circuits in one or more particular discipline.

Young Riders Programs are offered throughout North America and are open to all youth riders from 14 to 21. Young Riders offer progressive levels of competition and is an introduction to competing under FEI rules. Top riders qualify to compete in The North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) and are invited to compete by their equestrian federation in Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, as well as each province of Canada, each USA Equestrian Zone (Show Jumping), USDF Region (Dressage), and USEA Area (Eventing).

Young Riders is also a stepping stone to being selected for a national team like the Canadian or United States Equestrian Team. You will have to prove yourself by placing consistently in major competitions such as Rolex and Badminton. From the best of these riders a national team is chosen. From this pool riders are chosen that will compete at World Championships, Pan-Am Games and the Olympics.

The dream of taking of backyard horse to the Olympics is very unlikely. At the level where riders are competing on an international level each will need a pool of horses. Most will be leased and many imported from Europe, although there are programs promoting the breeding of international level competition horses in North America. Extensive travel is required and riders may need sponsorship to fund their competition expenses.

Source:about.com

What does it take to grab gold?

Being enthusiastic about your sport sometimes isn't enough to reach Olympic calibre - the best of the best often have unique characteristics that help them excel

What is it that makes a good athlete great? Is it the 10,000 hours of training experts say is needed to make it to the top? Or are elite athletes genetically destined to excel?

Here are some of the leading experts in their fields weighing in on what it takes to become an Olympian.

Swimming
Look no farther than Michael Phelps - who has won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics - when envisioning the perfect swimmer's body.

"Long levers help," said Peter Carpenter, head coach of the Pointe Claire Swim Club and age-group coach of Canadian Olympian Tobias Oriwol.

But it's not just long arms that help swimmers power their way to the end of the pool. Big hands catch and pull a lot of water, and big feet and flexible ankles and knees add whip-like power to the kick. Also on the checklist of physical attributes are narrow hips and a small curvature of the lower spine (no J. Lo butts), which assist in streamlining a swimmer's long torso.

Most swimmers start young. The best age is about 7, Carpenter says, as it takes years to learn the technical side of the sport. Swimmers must learn four strokes, each of which includes movement patterns that exist only in an aquatic environment.

"The complexity of the technical skills to be mastered can't be underestimated," Carpenter said.

And then, of course, there is the work ethic. It takes a special person to spend four hours a day, every day, staring at a black line while swimming up and down a pool. And if you start at the age of 7, which most of the best swimmers do, and continue well into your 20s (or 40s, if you are American Dara Torres), suffice it to say that you've gotta love getting wet if you hope to reap success.

Rowing
Rowing is one of the rare sports that doesn't demand an early start. Many of the world's greatest picked up an oar for the first time in university. That doesn't mean you can put down the remote, hop in a boat and become successful: Most rowers started out as good athletes before transferring their strength and stamina to the boat.

Fortunately, it doesn't take decades to learn how to move an oar through the water. So while there is a technical side to the sport, once you master it, all you have to do is repeat it over and over again at increasingly high speeds.

It helps if you have some height to work with. A male heavyweight rower typically tops 6 feet by two or three inches, and a female heavyweight hovers around the 6-foot mark.

"If you're shorter, you must be very gifted," said Jennifer Parfitt, domestic development officer at Rowing Canada.

The other important factor for rowers is the ability to go

all-out for six gruelling minutes. While that may not seem like a long time, the effort needed is so intense that it's not unusual to throw up over the side of the boat after a tough race.

It's that physical and mental toughness, combined with height, that distinguishes the top rowers from those who don't make the cut.

Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball players need top-notch overall skills to make it in the sand. Compared to players of the indoor game, who are in teams of specialists, beach volleyball players have to do it all - receive a serve, block, hit and set. They also have to cover a lot of court, which means they need agility, superior fitness and quick reaction time.

Most players are tall; male blockers are well over the 6-foot mark and women measure close to 6 feet. Defenders can be shorter, but they need good jumping ability and a quick, agile body to compensate for their lesser height.

According to Brian Hiebert, Canada's beach volleyball high performance director, Canadian beach players are recruited from the indoor game and move to the beach at around 18 or 19 years of age. In California and Brazil, however, more and more players learn the game on the beach and stay there. That being said, the average age of the players in Beijing is 29 for women and 31 for men, making it a late-developers' sport that benefits from experience.

Marathon running
"Only one out of every 1,000 has the qualities to succeed at marathon running," said Guy Thibault, a researcher for Quebec's Department of Sport and Physical Activity and former coach of Quebec marathoner Jacqueline Gareau.

Those rare qualities include an impressive VO2 max (the maximum amount of oxygen one is able to consume), a slight physique and the capacity to run at a high intensity for an extended period of time.

Most of these physical attributes are born, not bred, but genetic gifts won't automatically place you at the front of the pack. Marathoners put in lots of miles, many of which are done at a quick pace, so the physical and mental capacity to endure maximum effort is a must.

The endurance gene shows itself at an early age, but the best time to start developing the attributes necessary to run marathons is 14 or 15. Even then, it's best to start with more middle-distance running (five or 10 km). Thibault says some of the best marathoners were former middle-distance athletes who translated their superior VO2 max into a competitive marathon distance of 42 km.

Source:http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=1afdb1a6-fa3e-4639-ae15-66ce4e2bc370&p=1

What's so SPECIAL about Orange County

Here is further proof of Orange County’s awesomeness: 47 of the 596 athletes on the US Olympic team are from Orange County. Mission Viejo in particular (the greatest city in the greatest county ever) has a proud history of producing some of the greatest swimmers and divers through the Mission Viejo Nadadores, one of the country’s largest swimming and diving clubs. Some notable Nadador olympians include diver Greg Louganis, Larsen Jensen, and Dara Torres.

Honoring Orange County’s Olympic connection is this video of the 2008 Mission Viejo Invitational at the Nadadores aquatic center. There aren’t any olympians in this video, but you get to see the inside of the place where gold medalists are made.

Source

Olympic Training Secrets: Your Gold-Medal Game Plan

Three United States Olympians share the training secrets that make them faster, stronger, better (no doping required).

Endurance
When the world's top athletes march into Torino Stadio Olimpico for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Games in Italy this February, they will embark on a 16-day quest to determine the best of the best in 14 sports—plus curling. We asked Eric Heiden, 47, five-time 1980 gold medalist-turned-head physician for the U.S. speed-skating team, to help identify which U.S. athlete would have the best tips for weekend warriors who want to improve endurance, power and speed. His answers were both predictable, "Speed skaters know from fit," and surprising, "Cross-country skiers are, hands down, the fittest." Use the Olympic advice assembled here to help you improve your 5K time or power through your turns on the slopes. (Sorry, curlers: Scrubbing ice with a broom didn't make the cut.)

Rebecca Dussault, Cross-Country Skiing
Considered America's best bet to bring home a medal in cross-country skiing, this resident of Colorado has won seven U.S. national championships.

Main Ingredients: "I've done so many sports, and this is by far the one that hurts the worst," says Dussault, 25. "Both strength and endurance are huge components."

How She Prepares: Dussault endurance-trains every day and hits the weights three times a week. "Cross-country skiers are some of the most fortunate athletes, because whatever trains us cardiowise can be considered cross-country training. I roller-ski, run, bike, hike, and even rock climb to get a workout."

STEAL THIS MOVE: This routine works equally well for runners who want to improve in endurance races such as a 5K or 10K and for Nordic skiers. Try it outside or on a treadmill.

• Jog slowly for 15 minutes as a warm-up.
• Then, to loosen leg muscles, sprint for ten seconds and follow with a ten-second jog. Repeat.
• Run at your 5K race pace for two minutes.
• Jog for two minutes.
• Repeat the two-minute speed intervals six to eight times, with a recovery jog after each.
• Jog 10 to 15 minutes as a cooldown.

Keep in Mind: If you can't hold your form and speed after a few repeats, stop. Next time, slow it down


Power
Vonetta Flowers, Bobsledding
When Birmingham, Alabama-native Flowers, 32, and teammate Jill Bakken won the women's bobsled in Salt Lake City in 2002, they were the first Americans to medal in the sport since 1956.

Main Ingredients: "Bobsledding combines power and speed," says Flowers. "Therefore I do a lot of strength training, running hills and stadium stairs, pulling a weighted sled, and sprint training with leg weights."

How She Prepares: During peak training, Flowers spends about three and a half hours each day speed training and three to four hours strength training by lifting weights and doing core-strengthening exercises.

STEAL THIS MOVE: Most of Flowers's strength exercises can be done around the house: This low-weight, high-rep routine will help prevent shoulder injuries among paddlers and climbers.
• Stand and press your back firmly against a wall, with your arms at your sides, holding small dumbbells or soup cans in your hands, palms facing in.
• Slowly raise your arms to shoulder height, being careful not to arch your back.
• Hold this position for one or two seconds, then lower your arms.
• Do five sets of ten repetitions.

Keep in Mind: As with all strength workouts, proper form is essential. Your


Speed
Speed Skating FitzRandolph, 29, took up speed skating at age four in Wisconsin the same winter Heiden made history in Lake Placid, New York. In 2002 FitzRandolph won gold in the 500-meter (547-yard) sprint, making him the world's fastest man on ice.

Main Ingredients: "Speed skating demands power and explosiveness," says FitzRandolph. "But if you don't have endurance, you start to pay the price after your first lap."

How He Prepares: During peak season, FitzRandolph works out five hours a day, split evenly between strength and endurance training. During the summer, a majority of his distance workouts are on a road bike, which engages similar muscles to speed skating.

STEAL THIS MOVE: This tempo workout will improve your endurance when tackling hills on a bike. You can do it on the slopes or trail with a flat area at its base or try using a resistance trainer.

• Ride for 15 to 20 minutes as a warm-up.
• Pedal uphill at a sprint, about 80 percent of your maximum pace, for 45 seconds to a minute.
• Glide down the hill, and ride slowly on the flats for six minutes.
• Repeat six times.
• Ride for 10 to 15 minutes as a cooldown.

Keep in Mind: Your goal is consistency of speed from the first rep to the last. If you can't keep pace, you've reached the point of diminishing returns.



DHEA: The Wonder Steroid? The Truth About DHEA

The Big Idea: The steroid DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) has been touted as a wonder pill that pumps up muscle mass, increases endurance, and amplifies one's sense of overall well-being. Sounds like something the FDA should be keeping a closer eye on, right? Turns out, Congress excluded DHEA from the list of supplements it banned in April 2005. Today, you can purchase the pills at your local health food store.

The Reality: If you're under 40, as I am, your body already produces ample DHEA. I tried a doctor-suggested five-milligram-a-day dose for a month and didn't feel a thing. After age 40, though, natural DHEA nose-dives, which is why the supplement has grown popular among mature triathletes. But according to Owen Anderson, Ph.D., editor of Running Research News, older athletes can reap the same benefits (greater strength, enhanced well-being) and avoid nasty side effects ("backne," anyone?) by simply improving their training: "Reach for higher-quality training, not the pill bottle."

Source:http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0512/sports/olympians.html