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Creatine: From Olympic Secret Weapon to Mainstream Athlete Supplement
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Sports

Creatine: From Olympic Secret Weapon to Mainstream Athlete Supplement

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Creatine emerged as a 'secret weapon' for British athletes at the 1992 Olympics, enhancing muscle mass and performance legally.
  • Now widely available, creatine is one of many supplements athletes use for marginal gains, with some studies suggesting up to 90% of athletes take them.
  • Experts emphasize meeting nutritional needs through food first, but supplements like creatine, found naturally in meat, are crucial when food intake is insufficient or impractical.

Creatine, once a whispered 'secret weapon' among elite British athletes at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has become a mainstream supplement for millions seeking to optimize performance. Its introduction marked a shift in how athletes pursued marginal gains, even amidst initial suspicion surrounding any 'performance-enhancing' substance, legal or otherwise. Today, it stands as one of numerous supplements athletes rely on, with some research indicating that as many as 90% of athletes incorporate them into their regimen.

There are various reports in the literature of some studies that say maybe up to 90% of athletes take supplements. I often jokingly say that means 10% are lying.

— Prof Graeme CloseProfessor of human physiology at Liverpool John Moores University, discussing the prevalence of supplement use among athletes.

Professor Graeme Close of Liverpool John Moores University notes that in sports teams he has worked with, supplementation is closer to a universal practice. While the primary goal remains meeting nutritional needs through whole foods, the practicalities of elite training often necessitate supplements. Creatine, naturally present in meat and fish, is a prime example. "You would need the best part of a kilogram of raw chicken a day to get the amount of creatine you need," Close explains, highlighting the impracticality and safety concerns of consuming raw poultry.

You would need the best part of a kilogram of raw chicken a day to get the amount of creatine you need.

— Prof Graeme CloseExplaining the impracticality of obtaining sufficient creatine solely through diet.

Creatine functions as a quick energy source for muscles, particularly vital for high-intensity activities like sprinting. Its widespread adoption accelerated in the 1990s following research shared with sports nutrition companies. Investigative reporter Doug Gillon's observation of creatine tablets during the 1992 Games and his subsequent report on its potential to improve explosive athletic performance by 1-3% signaled a significant shift in sports science and athletic strategy. The pursuit of such gains underscores the constant drive for improvement in professional sports.

sport may never be the same again

— Doug GillonInvestigative reporter's assessment of creatine's potential impact on sports performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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