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Olympians - If you pee in the pool, why do you put pool water in your mouth?

BY Jamie Skorheim  on August 7, 2012 @ 10:17 am (Updated: 12:53 pm - 8/7/12 )

cedargrove
Michael Phelps says almost all competitive swimmers pee in the pool. (AP)

US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps now admits he along with teammate Ryan Lochte, doesn't shy away from peeing in the Olympic pool. If that's not disturbing enough, Luke Burbank remembers something about other athletes' habits that don't sit well with the men's recent disclosures.

"Do you know what I just realized? Have you seen what they do when they approach the starting block?" Luke says. "They splash the water all over themselves and then they put it in their mouth and they spit it out. That's the preferred method for getting ready for the race for all these swimmers."

Phelps and Lochte both seem to think peeing in the pool is pretty universal and no big deal.

"I think everybody pees in the pool. It's kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers," Phelps says. "When we're in the water for two hours, we don't really get out to pee. We just go whenever we're on the wall. Chlorine kills it so it's not bad."

Luke and Dave Ross do not agree.

"I don't think chlorine kills it enough," says Luke. "That's the kind of thing you do when you're a 5-year-old kid, but as far as people I've been in swimming pools with, I hope that that's a thing that people aren't doing anymore."

While Dave and Luke say it's impossible for swimmers to keep themselves from inadvertently swallowing some water, they questioned why, with the knowledge that they and other swimmers are peeing in the pool constantly, they would put the pee-water in their mouths intentionally.

"Michael Phelps is cupping his hand, putting the water in his mouth when he is on the record as saying this - "Everybody pees in the pool. We just go when we're on the wall," says Luke. "So he is, when he's dipping his hand in the water, he knows he's dipping his hand in a big, giant urine stew, and he seems unperturbed by it."

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • maplefish wrote...
    Really...?
    August 7, 2012 12:55 pm
    Is this something you felt you had to share with us? You really thought this was worthy of reporting? Come On, Really???
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    usa should surprize the russians
    August 7, 2012 1:32 pm
    and drop the kids off at the pool too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    the fact that this bothers luke and dave...
    August 7, 2012 1:45 pm
    makes them seem less manly and a little more delicate/germaphobic.

    urine is sterile. get over it, ladies.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    $40 Million....
    August 7, 2012 3:48 pm
    Phelps net worth is estimated at around $40 million - if a little pee water in the mouth is what it takes...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    Yes, to what Oly80 said.
    August 7, 2012 3:58 pm
    But everyone already knows that Dave and Luke are a couple of sissy’s.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • G13 wrote...
    Save water...
    August 7, 2012 4:03 pm
    drink pee.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pgreenswim wrote...
    Not only is pee sterile...
    August 7, 2012 7:02 pm
    but chlorine takes care of any remaining taste. Nothing to see here, move along...move along...move along...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    Oh good lord.
    August 7, 2012 8:53 pm
    I'll bet Luke and Dave are giggling like little school girls. Maybe they will giggle more if they heard they also fart in the water too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sun0732001 wrote...
    As soon as gay marriage is approved
    August 7, 2012 10:51 pm
    I expect Dave and Luke will marry. Then they can be bleeding heart sissy liberals all day together.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    don't bet on it.
    August 8, 2012 5:49 am
    Doesn't Luke just uses that gay progressive schtick to pick up chicks ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    The athlete is highly paid to do endorsements of products
    August 9, 2012 1:02 am
    Sounds like a new mouthwash spot on the way
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }