Olympic gold medallist Thomas Ceccon was recently seen sleeping in a park, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the living conditions inside the Olympic village during the ongoing Paris Games. The 23-year-old Italian swimmer secured two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics: gold in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Viral Instagram post raises eyebrows
The unusual sight of Ceccon sleeping outdoors was shared by Saudi Arabian rower Husein Alireza on his Instagram story. The timing of the photo remains unclear, leaving questions about whether it was taken before or after Ceccon and his teammates failed to qualify for the men’s 4x100m medley relay final.
Dissatisfaction with village conditions
Ceccon has been vocal about his grievances regarding the Olympic Village. He pointed out that the lack of air conditioning, poor quality food, and noise make it difficult to rest and recover.
“There is no air conditioning in the village, it’s hot, the food is bad,” Ceccon told The Sun. “Many athletes move for this reason: it’s not an alibi or excuse, it’s the reality of what perhaps not everyone knows. I’m disappointed that I didn’t make the final but I was too tired. It’s hard to sleep both at night and in the afternoon. Usually, when I’m at home, I always sleep in the afternoon: here I really struggle between the heat and the noise.”
This is not the first time athletes have complained about the subpar living conditions in the village. U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff also raised similar concerns. In response to the widespread complaints, the Indian Sports Ministry recently sent 40 portable air conditioners to support their athletes facing the hot and humid conditions in the Paris Olympic Games Village.
Efforts to improve athlete comfort
As athletes from various countries continue to compete in this challenging environment, efforts are being made to address their comfort and well-being. Ceccon’s public airing of his grievances sheds light on the ongoing issues within the Olympic Village, prompting further discussions on improving living conditions for all participants.