Speed. Agility. Quickness. Ever wonder how they do it?

Some of the best Olympic athletes of Paris 2024, in the most intensive exercises humanly possible, have the sole purpose of competing against the person next to them and representing their nation. A competitive energy they must muster up with all their strength and ability. The medal count runs up; the nations celebrate with them. Although the best of the best not only outrun their competitors, but their own personal records in order to finish as strongly as possible. While we see the results in 2024, they're likely training onward till 2028...2032...and far beyond the current season. How do these athletes find their results, and further: how do we find ours?

Usain Bolt (crowned "The Fastest Man Alive") has a peak speed of ~27.8 miles per hour. Looking at his exercise routine: six days a week, eleven months a year; he outperforms his competitors and his own P.R. through 90-minute intensive workouts on these days. Although cardio seems to be his gift, his core-focused exercises are just as important, if not moreso, so core flexibility turns to an explosive effect when on the track. He even has a personal chef ensure chicken wings and nuggets can fit into his diet. Indeed, Olympic athletes should think of everything. (Track & Field Forever covers Bolt's fitness routine and diet in their article analyzing the fastest of us all.)

Simone Biles already won three gold medals and one silver for the 2024 Olympics. "$imoney" begins her day at 7 AM, dedicating seven hours daily to training, six days a week. Her schedule includes morning and afternoon sessions, with the first lasting three-and-a-half hours and the second running from 2 PM to 5:15 PM. To boost her agility and strength, she cross-trains by swimming nearly a mile twice a week and biking 10 miles once a week, or she substitutes biking with a mile run followed by a beam routine. This diverse regimen is key to mastering the demanding skills of gymnastics. As for cravings, she enjoys a pepperoni pizza as her cheat meal since even the best of us have to think of these things. (For more info, visit Boxrox's comprehensive list of Simone Biles's routine. For a guide to your best cheat meals, Harvard Health has plenty to say on the subject.)

Michael Phelps might ring a bell. The most celebrated Olympian ever to grace a swimming pool has a gold caliber routine. The thirty-nine year old might've retired eight years ago, but that doesn't stop him from driven - even obsessive - workouts. Phelps swam around eight miles a day, six or seven days a week even on Sundays and birthdays. His training was split into two sessions, spending 5-6 hours in the pool daily, with remarkable intensity and volume. In addition to swimming, Phelps engaged in functional training with weights at least three times a week, leaning into weighted bodyweight exercises. Recovery was crucial to his routine, with ice baths, extensive stretching, regular massages, and ample sleep playing key roles in his success. (See more on Michael Phelps in the Olympics.)

His work ethic never stopped; and neither should yours. Chances are: you're not training for the Olympics. Nor are you seeking the best cheat meal (if you have one). Yet one can learn from the best of the best using the innate ability to run, flip, or swim. Who would've thought the world's fastest man gets a core workout on the daily? Notice how all three of the mentioned Olympians exercise six days a week, with one day off to rejuvenate the body. Some of us believe Sunday to be the day to do this, tokened "The Day of Rest". Whichever it is, the amount of discipline it takes to get in shape can't be overstated. We're all Olympians to some extent; we simply need to follow a routine that works for ourselves. Literally, the most ambitious competitors in the world stick to the schedule even when it's busy. So you can, too.

DISCLAIMER: [BLANK] highly recommends consulting a personal trainer for intensive events with the purpose of health and betterment of the reader.

-GC