Now being served at the Olympics, fish—with a side of worms.
At least according to British swimmer Adam Peaty.
Peaty, a six-time Olympic medalist who won silver in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke in Paris, blasted the food at the Olympic Village, a constant topic for athletes at these Games. Among his complaints? Athletes are finding worms in their fish.
“The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform,” he said. “We need to give the best we possibly can. [In] Tokyo the food was incredible. Rio was incredible. But this time around? There wasn’t enough protein options, long queues, waiting 30 minutes for food because there’s no queueing system.
“I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough. The standard, we’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re not feeding them the best.”
Olympic organizers said Peaty’s claims were utterly baseless.
“There is no information that’s been able to provide validity to this sensationalist claim,” organizers said in a statement. “Further, Team GB has confirmed that no such reports have been made to their staff.”
To be fair, worms are a decent if unconventional source of protein.
In Paris, the menu for athletes differs from past Olympics as this year’s Games aspire to be the greenest. Organizers have made roughly 60% of all menu options meatless and a third plant-based, which Peaty isn’t a fan of either.
“The narrative of sustainability has just been pushed on the athletes,” Peaty said. “I want meat. I need meat to perform, and that’s what I eat at home, so why should I change?”
A spokesperson for the Games said “there was never any question of placing the vegetarian objectives of Paris 2024’s Food Vision on the athletes.”
The Paris Olympics have mostly been a smash success, but there have been hiccups beyond the underfed Village. Marathon swimming practice scheduled for Tuesday was canceled as water quality issues persist in the Seine.
