Are the beds at the Olympics really made out of cardboard? A former Olympian chimes in

As the Paris Olympics have just begun, many athletes have taken to TikTok to discuss none other than the beds. That's right! Of all of the experiences Olympic athletes are having in a historically famous city, where they sleep is at the center of mind. Many fans are also curious, with multiple TikTok videos showing these beds having millions of views and too many comments to count.

One video from Cheddar, which has 6 million views, shows the beds at this year's games which were made by Airweave. People in the comments shared their thoughts, saying "Elite athletes sleeping on the cardboard bed??????," "Imagine trying to get a good night’s sleep before competing for a gold medal and this is the bed lol," and even "The mattress is a giant scrub daddy ??."

Watch the video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheddar/video/7394887593613118750?q=cardboard%20beds&t=1722286149102

USA Rugby athlete, Ilona Maher, posted about the cardboard beds in 2021, testing out their durability. This video had 7.7 million views, and was one of the first to surface the topic of the cardboard beds debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

Watch the video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@ilonamaher/video/6987711859436555526?q=cardboard%20beds&t=1722286149102

This week on our Snoozeletter, we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with our very own Janie Takeda Reed , a SleepScore Labs employee, former Olympic athlete, and silver medalist. Janie, like Ilona, experienced the first generation of environmentally friendly beds to be introduced to the Olympic lodgings for athletes.

Introduce yourself: I’m?Janie Takeda Reed, the Sales Development Representative at SleepScore, and I played Softball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.?

What is your relationship like with sleep? As an athlete married to a fellow professional athlete, sleep has always been a huge priority. During my playing years, giving my all on the field during practice and games always led to great, restful nights of sleep. Becoming a mom was a huge challenge adjusting to disrupted sleep. I had never had any circumstances that forced me to deal with anything like that and it definitely had an effect on my mental health along with all of the other adjustments of becoming a mom.?

What was your experience like at the Olympics? My experience at the Olympics was unique because of the pandemic. There were no fans allowed at the games which made it difficult to not have my family present, but all in all, it still felt like a dream staying in the village and getting to compete for my country on the biggest stage.?

What can you share with us about the beds at the Olympics? Is it true that they are made out of cardboard? The bed frames are indeed made out of cardboard! And the beds themselves are made up of compressed plastic. They were not very comfortable at all and we actually had to send a staff member outside of the village to purchase mattress toppers.

Do you think that there needs to be improvements to the sleeping conditions for the athletes staying in the Olympic village? I understand the mission behind prioritizing sustainability because historically the Olympic games have created a lot of waste in the host cities. However, quality sleep is crucial as an elite athlete — for performance, injury prevention, and mental well being. We were already under a crazy amount of stress, and it was tough to come back at the end of a long day to a plastic/cardboard bed.

Imagine asking Simone Biles to sleep on a cardboard bed and then go out and perform the best routine of her life. Athletes are at their best when they sleep well. Sleep is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for peak performance. With the physical and mental demands placed on Olympic athletes, ensuring they have comfortable and supportive sleeping conditions should be a top priority. The right sleep environment can make all the difference in an athlete’s performance, recovery, and overall well-being.

It’s clear that while sustainability is important, so is the health and performance of the athletes. As we look forward to future Olympic Games, let’s hope that finding a balance between eco-friendly solutions and optimal sleep conditions becomes a key focus. After all, the athletes’ ability to perform at their best on the world stage should never be compromised.

Do you have thoughts on these beds? Share your thoughts in the comments below.