Do Athletes Pee In Pool? Here's What The Olympians Have To Say

Swimming is truly a sport with very few rules. All you have to keep in mind is to avoid running on the deck, not diving in the shallow end and, if possible, not peeing in the pool. But the reality is pretty far from this. One of the ‘dirtiest’ secrets of the Olympic Games is that almost everyone pees in the pool. A few of the athletes are weighed into the discussion. Swimmer Kate Douglass said, “Everybody’s doing it more than you think,” while Bobby Finke added, “The people who tell the truth and the liars. So everybody pees in the pool.”

“There’s no time for me to go pee regularly. So yes. It’s a thing we all do,” said American para swimmer Jessica Long. The video went instantly viral, sparking a debate on social media. Many couldn’t help but relate to the swimmers, while others criticised them.

A user wrote, “My son is 2 and gets out of the pool to pee,” while another commented, ““Everybody?!” What?! Are we 5 years old here!”

“It takes 20 mins and usually a helper or two to put on their suits .. of course they pee in the pool lol,” another commented. A user slammed the athletes and added, “Why is this still happening at the professional level? That’s just disgusting. Equip the facilities properly and everyone needs to use the damn bathroom.”

Well, this is not it. Two-time gold medalist Lily King also revealed the unknown details. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, King said, “I’ve probably peed in every single pool I’ve swam in. That’s just how it goes.” Fellow Olympians also backed up the claims, reaffirming them. “I always have to pee because I’m so hydrated,” stated Jake Mitchell, who represented the USA in Tokyo. Three-time Olympic medalist Katie Hoff added, “It sounds so gross to outsiders, but because there is so much chlorine, you don’t even think about it.”

Is It Safe To Pee In The Pool?

For those unaware, swimming pools are usually filtered with chemicals, especially chlorine, that aid in protecting swimmers from human debris like hair, dead skin and even urine. The chlorine also kills algae and protects athletes from unhealthy compounds and waterborne illnesses, as per CNBC.

However, this doesn’t advocate the practice of urinating in the water. As the levels of debris increase, more chlorine is needed, which can harm the eyes and skin.