Sleep Pill Might Have Cost Cate Campbell A Gold Medal At Rio Olympics: Coach

Posted by Lewis Carroll on January 23rd, 2018

Incorrect use of a sleeping medication called Stilnox still haunts Australian swimming champ Cate Campbell, with her coach revealing that less sleep may have prevented her from winning a gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle final at Rio Olympics. Campbell’s coach Simon Cusack said that the sprinter had less than 3 hours sleep the night before the Olympic final at Rio Olympics, which could have been the reason why she finished sixth in the race.

Campbell is a competitive swimmer from Australia who won two bronze medals at 2008 summer Olympics, a gold medal at the 2012 summer Olympics and a silver and a gold at the summer Olympics of 2016. She is currently a record holder in the 4x100 freestyle relay with Team Australia and in the short course 100m freestyle. She was the favourite for the gold on account of her last month world record. Yet, in the 100 meter freestyle final in Rio Olympics, she finished sixth.

Australian Olympic athletes went through several sleep workshops before the Games in order to have a natural sleep. But Cusack is of the opinion that when everything else fails, the players should have the liberty to consult a health care professional for sleeping well. He believes that sometimes the players require effective sleeping pills in order to have a good night sleep. However, Ambien pills should not in any way hinder the performance of the sportspersons.

There are several sleeping medications recommended for the sportspersons and there is also a milder option in the form of melatonin. Use of sleep pills is usually a subject of discussion between the doctor and the athlete. Swimming Australia’s policy is that Sleeping pills should be used as the last option for a sportsperson.

How much sleep do swimmers need?

Swimmers put themselves through rigorous training, so it is vital for them to add an hour of sleep in their daily sleep routine or have a quiet nap in the day. Adequate sleep at night is important for athletic performance. During sleep, the mind and the body of the swimmers recover from hard training, busy work schedules and undue work pressures that they face throughout the day.

Deprivation of sleep leads to a decrease in the production of glycogen and carbohydrates that are stored for energy during physical training. Moreover, less sleep increases the risk of fatigue and leads to lack of concentration and low energy levels. It may also contribute to slow recovery after a swim meet. If swimmers are finding it difficult to relax peacefully at night, they can take the help of Ambien online UK Zolpidem after a detailed discussion with their doctor.