Olympic Swimmers Spill the Beans: ‘Dirty Secret’ of Pool Etiquette

One of the basic rules in swimming pools is not urinating in the water. However, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, the world’s top swimmers competing in the Olympics often ignore this rule.

The WSJ revealed that all Olympic swimmers will likely urinate in the pool at the Paris La Défense Arena, which is described as the “dirtiest secret” of the Olympics.

Many athletes with Olympic experience admitted to having urinated in the pool. Lilly King, a U.S. swimmer and gold medalist in breaststroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, shared, “I’ve probably urinated in every pool I’ve swam in. That’s just how it goes.”

According to the WSJ, athletes do not urinate only in the pool. Katie Hoff, who represented the U.S. in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, recounted witnessing a fellow swimmer urinate on the floor while waiting for their turn during a world championship event.

Hoff described the situation, noting that it ran down their legs and pooled on the floor. He mentioned that while it might be disgusting for non-swimmers, with all the chlorine in the pool, people don’t really think about it.

Swimmers often wear tight-fitting, muscle-compressing racing suits designed to minimize water resistance. While these suits benefit performance, they can be challenging to put on and take off. Swimmers also need to stay hydrated until their races.

Drinking water frequently and needing to use the restroom is common for swimmers, but getting into and out of a racing suit can take up to 20 minutes. Many swimmers opt to handle bathroom needs while wearing their suits to avoid the hassle of re-dressing.

Some swimmers choose to relieve themselves in the pool, though they typically adhere to an unwritten rule of avoiding this when others are nearby. They also rely on pool experts to maintain water quality by adjusting chlorine levels.

Brian Spear, who managed water quality during the U.S. Olympic Trials, explained to the WSJ that he continuously adjusted the pH and chlorine levels to ensure clean water for the 1,000 athletes competing over the nine-day event.