Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps debunks question we all wonder about peeing in the pool
Following the star-studded commencement of the eagerly-awaited 2024 Olympics on Friday, some sports fans still have a burning question about personal hygiene.
That is whether part-takers in water-based sports venture out of the pool to go for a No. 1, or whether they simply urinate in the company of their competitors.
Thankfully, we have multi-award winning Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps on hand to set the record straight.
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As we say, the headlines have been filled with shocking scandal, criminal controversy and astounding admissions during the build up for this year's sporting tournament in Paris.
Whilst some fans of games have been left horrified after hearing the 'real reason' that a convicted child rapist has been allowed to compete, others have been shocked by a video of a now-axed British equestrian abusing her horse during practice.
In other news, a former Olympian has made the bombshell claim that getting 'down and dirty' is 'inevitable' amongst athletes in the Olympic Village.
On top of this, another ex-athlete has lifted the lid on why she doesn't plan on attending the opening ceremony, as she admitted she was 'sorry to burst the bubble'.
All this said, however, one of the most-asked questions every time the summer Olympics roll around, is whether or not swimmers and divers pee in the pool.
Speaking to press back in 2012 ahead of the games held in London - during which he took four gold medals back to the States - athlete Michael Phelps left his fans blown away by candidly admitting he'd been guilty of a very public No. 1 on countless occasions in the past.
In fact, he says, there's no need to be ashamed of it.
"I think everybody pees in the pool," he began, adding that he believes his fellow swimmers also find the act completely normal.
"When we're in the pool for two hours, we don't really get out to pee. We just go whenever we are on the wall."
Speaking to the Wall Street journal, the now 39-year-old even went as far as to claim that weeing in the water is actually not as un-hygienic as one might expect.
His reasoning?
"Chlorine kills it, so it's not bad," he says.
And Phelps isn't the only sports star to have made the same admission, as all-American swimmer Dave Ford also previously told press: "I've been a competitive swimmer for many years. During competition, you don't pee. The suit is really (really) tight and having to pee can be a good motivation to go faster.
"On a more serious note, the stress and adrenalin makes you forget all your 'basic' needs. However, every swimmer I know pees during training sessions."
I mean, at least they're honest...
Rhianna Benson