Achieving Olympic Gold, similar to Usain Bolt, was my accomplishment – a McDonald's menu item, however, was my clandestine path to success.
In the world of sports, the Olympics stands as a global stage for athletes to showcase their skills and dedication. Over the years, the Games have seen numerous athletes crediting their success to various sources, and one of them is McDonald's.
During the 2012 London Olympics, American triple jumper Christian Taylor claimed his first gold medal and attributed his victory to McDonald's. Taylor was not alone in his affection for the fast-food giant, as Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter, also indulged in McDonald's during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Bolt, who broke the 100m world record at the event, was reported to have consumed fries and an apple pie, as well as multiple boxes of chicken nuggets.
The relationship between McDonald's and the Olympics ran deep, with the fast-food chain serving as the official restaurant of the Games from 1976 until 2017. In London, a supersized McDonald's restaurant was built in Stratford for six weeks, and another outlet was located in the Athletes' Village. A staggering 20% of the total meals from the London Games came from the McDonald's outlet.
However, the partnership between McDonald's and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) came to an end in 2017, before the Tokyo Games. In Paris, the Olympic meals took a turn for the gourmet, with athletes served dishes such as croissants, poached eggs, artichoke cream, sheep's cheese, and truffle, instead of the familiar offerings from McDonald's.
The Paris Olympics, which took place in 2024, was a much healthier event, with less junk food and more emphasis on high-quality, nutritious meals. The meals were developed with sports nutritionists to cater to the athletes' needs, and while hot dogs and burgers were still provided, they were not available in the main dining hall. Instead, dedicated grab-and-go outlets offered these options.
The meat for hot dogs and burgers in Paris was 100% French origin and was grilled in their kitchens. In contrast, the Paris Olympics saw no public reports of athletes choosing McDonald's as their nutrition source. However, four years after the Beijing Olympics, other Olympians were reportedly copying Usain Bolt's diet, which included McDonald's.
It seems that the fast-food giant's influence on the Olympic Games may have waned, but its legacy remains. As the world watches the next Olympic Games unfold, it will be interesting to see if any athletes credit McDonald's for their success, as Taylor and Bolt did in the past.
