Olympic Gold Medallist Thomas Ceccon Sleeps in Park

by Nicholas Edwards · 05/08/2024

Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon opts to sleep in a park at the Olympic Village, citing lack of air conditioning and poor food quality.

Paris, Bollywood Fever: Sleeping on the ground isn’t ideal, but it’s better than a cardboard bed—or so it seems for Olympic gold medallist Thomas Ceccon from Italy. Ceccon, who won gold in the 100m backstroke, was spotted sleeping on a white towel under a tree inside the Olympic Village, according to the New York Post.

Olympic Gold Medallist Thomas Ceccon Sleeps in Park

Saudi rower Husein Alireza captured the moment and shared it on social media, tagging the location as the Olympic Village. This came after Ceccon publicly criticized the accommodations at the Paris Games. “There is no air conditioning in the village, it’s hot, the food is bad,” Ceccon stated, as reported by The Sun.

“Many athletes move for this reason: it’s not an alibi or an excuse, it’s the reality of what perhaps not everybody knows. I’m disappointed that I didn’t make the final, but I was too tired. It’s hard to sleep both at night and in the afternoon. Here, I really struggle between the heat and the noise.”

The Italian team declined to comment further to The Sun.

The IOC has faced significant criticism for the lack of air conditioning and the cardboard “anti-sex” beds in the Olympic Village, measures aimed at environmental sustainability. The beds have become a joke since their introduction in 2020, as they are designed to support only one person. This has led to concerns about their comfort and ability to provide restful sleep.

Andy Anson, chief of the British Olympic Association, told The Times of London, “There are not enough of certain foods: eggs, chicken, certain carbohydrates. And then there is the quality of the food, with raw meat being served to athletes.”

The poor conditions have prompted some athletes, including the entire US women’s tennis team (except Coco Gauff), to seek alternative lodging. Australian water polo player Matilda Kearns also commented on the discomfort, posting that she “already had a massage to undo the damage” from the cardboard mattress.

As the Paris Games continue, the issue of athlete accommodations remains a contentious topic, with many hoping for improvements to ensure better rest and performance.

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