Hello, everyone! Have we got a story for you! Imagine winning an Olympic gold medal and then having to sleep on the ground because the Olympic Village accommodations are so bad. That’s the reality for Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon, who was spotted snoozing on a towel under a tree inside the Olympic Village. Yep, you heard that right—our gold medalist found more comfort in a park than in the provided lodgings.
Saudi rower Husein Alireza shared a photo of Ceccon catching some z’s on a white towel under a tree, tagging the location inside the Olympic Village. Apparently, sleeping on the ground beats enduring the sweltering heat and shoddy food in the athlete’s accommodations.
Ceccon, who clinched gold in the 100-meter backstroke, hasn’t been shy about his disdain for the Olympic Village conditions. After a disappointing performance in the 200-meter backstroke, he aired his grievances: “There is no air conditioning in the village, it’s hot, the food is bad,” Ceccon told 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.”
Italy’s Swimmer, Thomas Ceccon sleeping outside because he was fed up with no A/C in the Olympic village. Bro, got his rest and locked🥇 pic.twitter.com/YIjjG3lwFo
— Del Walker 🇵🇸 (@TheCartelDel) August 4, 2024
The Paris Games have been panned for their lack of basic comforts. Cardboard “anti-sex” beds and the absence of air conditioning are just the tip of the iceberg. Reports of worms in food and raw meat being served have only added fuel to the fire.
British Olympic chief Andy Anson didn’t hold back, telling 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.”
Ceccon isn’t the only one making a dash for better digs. The entire U.S. women’s tennis team, except for Coco Gauff, has fled the village for more comfortable accommodations. Even the recyclable beds, meant to be eco-friendly, have been a punchline since their debut.
They’re only designed to support one person, leading to jokes about being sex-proof. But the real kicker? They don’t even provide a good night’s sleep. Australian water polo player Matilda Kearns mentioned she needed a massage to undo the damage caused by the cardboard mattress.
So, Thomas Ceccon might be onto something with his outdoor napping strategy. Maybe sleeping on the ground is the way to go for a more restful sleep amidst the chaos of the Olympic Village. As for the rest of the athletes? They might want to pack a sleeping bag and find a nice tree.