Calling out the impact of extreme heat on athletic performance

After much anticipation, we witnessed four weeks of intense competition and athletic prowess during the 2024 Paris Olympics.  As athletes fight for gold and glory, they push their bodies to the absolute limit. However, environmental factors can get in the way of their dreams.

At the last summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, athletes endured temperatures exceeding 34°C and humidity levels of 70%. These conditions were tortuous for athletes and caused severe health risks. Since then, many have raised the alarm about climate change’s impacts on sports.

Ahead of this year’s games in Paris, BASIS and Frontrunners have collaborated to produce “Rings of Fire,” a report combining climate science and athlete testimonies on how climate change and extreme heat threaten the ability to compete safely.

If there are records athletes want to see broken, 2023 being the hottest year on record is not one of them. Climate change threatens athletic performance, from sleep disruptions and event timing changes to heat stress and injuries.

With rising average global temperatures, athletes should prepare themselves for how extreme heat will impact their training and events. Adaptations will be required not only to drive performance but also to protect themselves from heat-related health risks.

Raising awareness on how heat impacts the health of athletes

When we think about how heat impacts the ability of athletes to perform, there are three main risks:

• Heat stroke: In these instances, the body temperature rises above 40.5°C and causes the thermoregulatory system to fail.

• Heat exhaustion: When impacted by this heat illness, athletes are unable to continue exercising, as when we see competitors collapsing on race courses.

• Heat cramps: Athletes are more prone to cramps caused by dehydration, low energy stores, and changes in electrolyte concentrations.

The last thing we want to see is athletes risking their health and putting their lives in danger. In Rings of Fire, athletes such as Pragnya Mohan spoke out against the health risks athletes face when training and competing in intense heat.

“Triathlon is a very intensive sport and heat enhances the amount of energy required. This leads to severe dehydration resulting in cramps, and in some cases can also be fatal. For this reason, athletes need to train in such conditions because it can lead to adverse effects if your body is not used to it.” Pragnya Mohan, India’s highest-ever ranked triathlete speaks out on heat risks.