A recent report revealed that Olympic swimmers, including two-time gold medalist Lilly King, do pee in the pool. King admitted to urinating in every pool she has swum in, attributing it to the nature of the sport and the need to stay hydrated. Other Olympians also confirmed this practice, citing the necessity of putting on swimsuits early before races as a contributing factor.
The safety of peeing in the pool is questionable, as while pools are filtered with chlorine to prevent waterborne illnesses, over-chlorination can lead to skin and eye irritation. Maintaining balanced chlorine levels in the pool is crucial to avoid exposing swimmers to unhealthy compounds that could result from human urine in the water.
Despite the use of chlorine as a disinfectant, peeing in the pool is not recommended due to the potential health risks associated with it. The presence of human debris such as urine can increase the need for more chlorine, affecting the balance in the pool water. Therefore, it is important for pool owners to continuously monitor chlorine levels and maintain water quality.
While some swimmers may find it common or even necessary to urinate in the pool, experts advise against this practice due to sanitation concerns and potential health hazards. Olympic swimmer Kate Douglass reflected on the importance of maintaining clean pool water after her gold medal win in the 200-meter breaststroke event.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcnewyork.com