Olympic Swimmers Pee in the Pools: The Surprising Truth

It’s a well-known fact that Olympic athletes train and compete at an incredibly high level, pushing their bodies to the limit. But did you know that this level of exertion can lead to an unexpected phenomenon: peeing in the pool?

It’s true, Olympic swimmers often pee in the pool while they’re swimming. This may come as a surprise to some, but it’s actually quite common. Lilly King, a three-time Olympian for Team USA, told the Wall Street Journal, “I’ve probably peed in every single pool I’ve swam in, that’s just how it goes.”

Another athlete, Zach Harting, who competed for the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics, had a similar experience. He peed in his swimming suit for the first time at the Alabama high-school state championships. “The world changed for me,” he said. “Every time I went to a pool after that, I only considered myself to have swam in it if I peed in it.”

So, why do swimmers feel the need to pee in the pool? According to U.S. Masters Swimming, most open water swimmers do actually pee in the water quite often. They say that “for most open water swimmers, taking a leak is part and parcel of every swim—sometimes multiple times—and we invest a good bit of time and energy into perfecting the ability to ‘go’ on the go.”

For all swimmers, though, there is a potential reason why you might need to pee more while you’re in the water, and it’s called ‘immersion diuresis’. This occurs whenever the body is immersed in water and it happens because cold water and immersion causes narrowing of the blood cells in the extremities, giving us the urge to pee.

U.S. Masters Swimming added: “You may notice that you feel thirstier after an open water swim than you do after a pool swim, and that could in part be related to immersion diuresis. Listen to your thirst, and aim to stay well-hydrated before, during, and after all workouts.”

So, there you have it. Olympic swimmers pee in the pool. It’s a common occurrence, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s a sign that you’re working hard and pushing your body to the limit.

So, the next time you’re at the pool, don’t be surprised if you see someone peeing in the water. It’s just a natural part of swimming.