What will Olympians eat while in Rio? Too much

RIO DE JANEIRO – There are many potential obstacles to Olympic success – injury, bad luck, bad timing or just an opponent who picks the day of the final to turn in the performance of their life.

You can also add a surprise contender to that list: McDonald's.

According to Greg Shaw, lead nutritionist for the Australian swimming team, the size and scale of the dining hall at the Olympic Village has the potential to spell disaster for athletes who typically follow a rigid eating pattern.

The centerpiece of the eating area in the Village is a vast McDonald’s restaurant, with the fast-food chain having been an Olympic sponsor since 1976. And, of course, it’s all free.

“It is this amazing food environment,” Shaw, who has worked at the Australian Institute of Sport since 2008, told USA TODAY Sports. “Think of it as a food court on steroids. There’s multiple cuisines available, and often the athlete has difficulty narrowing the choice. It can be really detrimental to their performance.”

Brennan: First impressions of Rio are concerning

Some athletes will eat more than they should, because of the variety that is offered. Others are simply unaccustomed to having so much available food free of charge. For competitors whose event is late in the Games there is a risk of piling on weight in the lead-up to competition. The dining area also becomes a social experience at the Olympics, with great restraint needed to stop eating when others nearby are gorging themselves.

The Australian delegation has taken preventative steps for the past several Olympics. Shaw receives information about what food will be offered days in advance and suggests certain meals for his athletes. He also eats his own meal in the dining hall earlier than his athletes to scope out any potential pitfalls.

“They make sure you know all about what you should and shouldn’t have,” William Henzell, a three-time Australian Olympic table tennis representative, said. “It is interesting to watch. Younger athletes gravitate towards McDonald's. It is hard for them to get their head around the fact that there is a McDonald's there and you can have whatever you want, as much as you want, for free, at any time of day or night.”

American athletes have amusing tales about the food court. Judo player Marti Malloy, who won a bronze medal in London four years ago, admitted to jokingly attempting to order 50 cheeseburgers, “just to see if they would do it.” The order was accepted by McDonald’s staff, but Malloy cancelled it before the burgers were made.

“The hall is the size of a football field. You can literally get any type of food you want any time of day,” Malloy said. “It’s fun. But for judo people who have a weight category it’s obviously not a good place.”

American sports nutritionist Enette Larson-Meyer said the food experience at the Games can be stressful for athletes. “Packing a suitcase with supplemental foods is probably a good idea, and then after their major competition they can experience the cultural food in the Olympic Village,” she said.

While the Olympics include many of the finest athletes on the planet, the fact remains that even Olympians are as susceptible to junk food cravings as the rest of us.

Following the Closing Ceremony of the London Games, American cyclist Bobby Lea posted a photograph on social media of the mob scene of athletes lining up 12-deep for post-event food … at McDonald’s.