We had another great morning at the pool today: 3 gold (all in world record times), 1 silver, 2 bronze. Ryan Lochte won bronze (missed silver by .01 second) in the 200 Individual Medley just 25 minutes after winning the 200 backstroke. That is a very impressive double. Another athlete with amazing performances is Natalie Coughlin. She has won 5 medals, including a gold in the 100 meter backstroke.
On the medical side, the gastrointestinal issues are still occuring, but are responding well to treatment. My wife (Christine Frissora) is a gastroenterologist, so I have an expert to consult! I have also received expert advice from Dr. Brad Connor, a travel medicine specialist in New York City.
I have helped treat several of the U.S. Track and Field athletes. Their competition started yesterday.
I have also been covering the diving competition. As a physician covering diving, I am prepared for possible head or spinal injury that could occur from contact with the platform. We are also prepared with the appropriate equipment for initial immobilization and treatment of possible head or spinal injury. Common injuries in divers include lumbar spine, shoulder, wrist, and elbow problems. The divers do some gymnastics type of training which can lead to lumbar spine problems.
Another exciting story here was the first and second place finish in the women's gymnastics all-around. One of the great things about the Olympics is the numerous events that are all occuring simultaneously. Although we are so focused on swimming right now, there are equally great competitions going on all over Beijing. Off to the competition now...
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Breaking world records
We have had 3 amazing days of swimming competition. So far Michael Phelps is 3 for 3, all in World Record times. It is a privilege to help take care of the greatest swimmer ever.
I imagine everyone saw or heard about the Men's 400 meter Freestyle relay. This is one of the marquee events of the Games, and the U.S. won with a truly incredible performance, breaking the world record by 4 seconds and just edging out the favored French team. I remember standing on the sidelines at the Superbowl this past January with the Giants and during the last drive I was thinking that it was just like an Olympics final: it is something an athlete has trained for since they were a kid and careers could be defined based on what happens on the next 5 minutes. Well, the Men's 400 meter Freestyle relay was just the same. I guess you could say that the relay swim was like the Giants last (winning) drive in the Superbowl. The anchor leg (Jason Lezak) was like Tyree's catch against his helmet. This is one of the things I love about sports: to achieve at this level, someone has to step up and do something special. As is said in football: Big players make big plays in big games...
On the medical side, I have kept busy treating gastrointestinal upset and traveller's diarrhea. This is rather common (almost expected) in new environments with changes in food, water, etc. I have also been busy accompanying our athletes during the drug testing process. Both urine and blood samples are being analyzed. The top 5 finishers in each event are tested, as well other random athletes. I am there to ensure that the protocols are followed very carefully.
I imagine everyone saw or heard about the Men's 400 meter Freestyle relay. This is one of the marquee events of the Games, and the U.S. won with a truly incredible performance, breaking the world record by 4 seconds and just edging out the favored French team. I remember standing on the sidelines at the Superbowl this past January with the Giants and during the last drive I was thinking that it was just like an Olympics final: it is something an athlete has trained for since they were a kid and careers could be defined based on what happens on the next 5 minutes. Well, the Men's 400 meter Freestyle relay was just the same. I guess you could say that the relay swim was like the Giants last (winning) drive in the Superbowl. The anchor leg (Jason Lezak) was like Tyree's catch against his helmet. This is one of the things I love about sports: to achieve at this level, someone has to step up and do something special. As is said in football: Big players make big plays in big games...
On the medical side, I have kept busy treating gastrointestinal upset and traveller's diarrhea. This is rather common (almost expected) in new environments with changes in food, water, etc. I have also been busy accompanying our athletes during the drug testing process. Both urine and blood samples are being analyzed. The top 5 finishers in each event are tested, as well other random athletes. I am there to ensure that the protocols are followed very carefully.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Meeting other athletes
President Bush came to the National Aquatics Center on Sunday and met some of the athletes. I had a chance to meet him and chat briefly. On Monday many of the NBA players came to watch swimming, and we had a chance to sit with them and talk about sports. This is one of the unique things about the Olympics environment that I also remember from the 2004 Athens Games, the chance to meet many other athletes from all types of sports. One can sit down in the dining hall and eat with a fencer from Romania, a gymnast from Japan, a marathoner from Kenya, etc. As a physician it is interesting and educational to see the different types of injuries that occur in different athletes and sports. I also learn a lot observing and speaking with athletic trainers and physicians from other sports and from other countries. We get to share notes and experiences, as well as form new friendships.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
The competition starts today!
We are all ready, after training camps at Stanford University, Singapore, and then here in Beijing. The U.S. Olympic Swimming team has a number of world record holders, so we look forward to a strong showing. However, there are challenges from athletes from all over the world.
The schedule for the preliminaries amd finals has been reversed to allow for the final to be shown live on the east coast in the U.S. This is great for the U.S. viewing audience, as you will get to see most events live! The finals will be in the morning here, while the preliminaries will be in the evening. This is a huge change (and concession to TV), since most all sports have always had the finals in the evening. This schedule change has had implications for athletes schedules for training, sleep, and meals. We start with preliminaries tonight (Sat. Aug. 9) in swimming.
The schedule for the preliminaries amd finals has been reversed to allow for the final to be shown live on the east coast in the U.S. This is great for the U.S. viewing audience, as you will get to see most events live! The finals will be in the morning here, while the preliminaries will be in the evening. This is a huge change (and concession to TV), since most all sports have always had the finals in the evening. This schedule change has had implications for athletes schedules for training, sleep, and meals. We start with preliminaries tonight (Sat. Aug. 9) in swimming.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Arrival in Beijing
We arrived in Beijing August 4. The first thing to strike us was the incredible media presence and the air quality. There is always a media crush with Michael Phelps with the team. The U.S.O.C. security staff helped us get through the media chaos in the airport.
The air quality has been a topic of concern for the past year leading up to the Games. When we landed at the Beijing airport the air was very hazy, as bad as any air pollution I have ever seen. We have activated carbon filtration masks for the athletes to iuse if needed. However, the swimmers have really not been affected by the air so far and have not used the masks. The National Acquatics Center is indoors, so there is less exposure to the outside air. We are carefully monitoring those athletes who have a history of respiratory problems such as asthma, as they are most likely to be affected by the air pollution. There has been a pall of hot, humid, and hazy air hanging over the city for the past 4 days.
Doping control is a big issue in the Olympic Games, as widely reported in the press. A number of our athletes have been tested (blood and urine tests) while we were in Singapore as well as after arriving here in Beijing. One of my jobs as team physician is to accompany the athletes through the process, to ensure that the protocols and rules are followed strictly. This is an area where we cannot be too careful.
The air quality has been a topic of concern for the past year leading up to the Games. When we landed at the Beijing airport the air was very hazy, as bad as any air pollution I have ever seen. We have activated carbon filtration masks for the athletes to iuse if needed. However, the swimmers have really not been affected by the air so far and have not used the masks. The National Acquatics Center is indoors, so there is less exposure to the outside air. We are carefully monitoring those athletes who have a history of respiratory problems such as asthma, as they are most likely to be affected by the air pollution. There has been a pall of hot, humid, and hazy air hanging over the city for the past 4 days.
Doping control is a big issue in the Olympic Games, as widely reported in the press. A number of our athletes have been tested (blood and urine tests) while we were in Singapore as well as after arriving here in Beijing. One of my jobs as team physician is to accompany the athletes through the process, to ensure that the protocols and rules are followed strictly. This is an area where we cannot be too careful.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Pre-Olympic Training Camp
We departed the U.S. on July 25 for a training camp for the U.S. Olympic swim team in Singapore. This allowed the athletes to acclimate to the heat and humidity that we would experience in Beijing, and to adjust to the time change (Singapore is in same time zone as Beijing). From a medical standpoint, as the physician I am busy prior to the Games with a number of issues. I review all of the athletes (and staff) medical histories and medications. Several types of medications, such as asthma inhalers, insulin, ADD medications, require special permission (a "therapeutic use exemption") before they can be used. One of my duties as team physician is to coordinate these forms. I also spend time educating the athletes about issues related to acclimation to the heat and humidity, how to best adjust to the time change, appropriate and safe nutrition in a new environment, and the importance of maintaining hydration in this hot, humid environment.
Another very important area is doping control, and educating the athletes to the risks of over the counter supplements (these substances are not FDA-regulated, and thus can potentially be contaminated). Over the counter medications for cold and sinus conditions can also contain banned stimulants (especially brands sold overseas), so we educate the athletes about this risk. I have a well stocked medical bag with supplies and medications to treat all of the common conditions that we are likely to encounter.
Another very important area is doping control, and educating the athletes to the risks of over the counter supplements (these substances are not FDA-regulated, and thus can potentially be contaminated). Over the counter medications for cold and sinus conditions can also contain banned stimulants (especially brands sold overseas), so we educate the athletes about this risk. I have a well stocked medical bag with supplies and medications to treat all of the common conditions that we are likely to encounter.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Pre-Games Preparation
Just as the athletes prepare intensively with their training, the sports medicine team prepares thoroughly to provide excellent medical care. I believe in the adage: "if you prepare for problems you won't have them". In the months before the Games I arrange for local medical contacts that would be available in the event of an emergency or if we need to obtain imaging studies (X-ray, MRI). We recommend specific vaccines in the months prior to the Olympic Games and also educate the athletes and staff about strategies to minimize the effects of jet lag, the dangers of positive doping tests from contaminated supplements, and issues related to the expected heat and humidity of Beijing.
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