How Olympic Athletes Fuel Their Bodies for Winter Sports Success

Olympic gold medallist Jessie Diggins and Team USA bobsled driver Frank Del Duca rely on daily nutrition to power their performances. Both athletes stress the importance of consistent fueling, not just on race days but throughout training. Their approach is backed by experts who tailor plans to meet the demands of winter sports.

Early in her career, Diggins believed fueling mattered only around major workouts and competitions. Now, she views it as a daily necessity. She boosts her diet with nuts, seeds, and pre-prepared ingredients, especially before intense training periods.

Carrie Aprik, a winter sports dietitian for the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), designs personalised nutrition plans for each athlete. These consider carbohydrate needs, food preferences, allergies, and the energy demands of their sport. She also highlights hydration as critical during the Winter Games, balancing fluid, sodium, and carbohydrate intake to aid performance and recovery.

Cold conditions can dull thirst and appetite, raising the risk of dehydration and poor nutrition. To counter this, athletes pack familiar foods when travelling and consult dietitians for adaptable strategies. Maggie McCrudden, another USOPC dietitian, agrees that steady nutrition helps athletes perform at their best, while last-minute fixes often backfire.

Diggins, who has competed in three Winter Olympics—2018 (PyeongChang), 2022 (Beijing), and is preparing for 2026 (Milano Cortina)—adjusts her diet across training phases. Del Duca does the same, focusing on nutrients that support power or endurance as needed. Aprik notes that flexible, consistent fueling habits help athletes handle challenges like illness, travel delays, or schedule shifts.

For elite winter athletes, nutrition is a year-round priority, not just a race-day concern. By working with dietitians and adapting their diets, they maintain energy, resilience, and peak performance. These strategies ensure they stay competitive, even under the toughest conditions.