Serious sailing, Serious fuel

Ranked second in the world, Olympic medalist Bryony Shaw (GBR) is fit. Her event, the RS:X windsurfer, requires it. She’s all in to claim another medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Here the 31-year old reveals her training diet…

8am Weetabix cereal with skimmed milk and chopped banana, strawberries or blueberries, with orange juice and a cup of tea.

9am Head down to the sailing club to meet my coach. Our days are dictated by the wind: I start on land today with interval training, cycling hard for five minutes then resting for two. My physiologist monitors my heart rate so I just have water.

11am Protein shake, then we check out some footage of yesterday’s water sessions.

12pm Tuna salad sandwich and fizzy water at the club before heading out on the water.

1:30pm An afternoon of equipment testing, analyzing the performance of the surfboard’s fin, which is both physically and mentally draining. I’ve got energy gels and high-calorie electrolyte drinks out with me.

5pm Refuel with a cereal bar before heading home.

7pm My parents live nearby so I’m treated to pork in a creamy mushroom sauce with beans, potatoes and carrots. If I’m not full I have raspberries with ice cream. Yoga-style stretches before bed.

Observations from nutritionist Petronella Ravenshear: “Bryony’s job demands serious fuel, including good fats, and her Weetabix breakfast would be improved, and keep her going for longer, with whole milk and flaked almonds. Ideally, she’d include more green veg/salad with her meals to provide magnesium for muscle energy. A soak in an Epsom salt bath is a lovely way to supply magnesium to tired muscles before bed.”
Report courtesy of The Telegraph.