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To be an elite athlete do you have to avoid alcohol?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:00
by boxbet
I like to have a drink, but I feel its holding my fitness level back. Is it possible to have some alcohol in your life each week / fortnite and still be at your best. I know it can interupt your sleep, which is a very important part of being super fit.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:06
by jamesmcdonnell
Depends on the amount. Alcohol is a toxin, which interferes with your bodies various organs, and can over time progressively weaken the heart muscle and reduce lung efficiency.
It's not going to hurt to have a tipple now and then, but if you are getting smashed on alcopops and are a regular feature on booze britain, you are unlikely to be setting the world on fire in terms of sporting endeavour.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:17
by chesh
I've drunk and smoked heavily for over 30 years and I'm still able to throw a dart. So, no, the booze hasn't affected this elite athlete.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:20
by Southpaw Stylist
chesh wrote:I've drunk and smoked heavily for over 30 years and I'm still able to throw a dart. So, no, the booze hasn't affected this elite athlete.
Hahahaha
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:20
by Khaosai-Galaxy
Ive spent most of my life in a shambolic state, living from bottle to bottle and i'm still ... umm .. errrrm....
wait a sec...
no, its gone, sorry
Re: To be an elite athlete do you have to avoid alcohol?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:20
by The Blade
boxbet wrote:I like to have a drink, but I feel its holding my fitness level back. Is it possible to have some alcohol in your life each week / fortnite and still be at your best. I know it can interupt your sleep, which is a very important part of being super fit.
Seb Coe was arguably our greatest Olympic athlete, and love a pint and always did. Question answered?
Re: To be an elite athlete do you have to avoid alcohol?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 13:22
by Sammy Mendelson
The Blade wrote:boxbet wrote:I like to have a drink, but I feel its holding my fitness level back. Is it possible to have some alcohol in your life each week / fortnite and still be at your best. I know it can interupt your sleep, which is a very important part of being super fit.
Seb Coe was arguably our greatest Olympic athlete, and love a pint and always did. Question answered?
Wow! That is what I was going to write.
Everybody should re-watch the Coe/Ovett/Cram classics on youtube at least once every three months to remind them how awesome our middle distance runners used to be.
Re: To be an elite athlete do you have to avoid alcohol?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 14:38
by Goz
boxbet wrote:I like to have a drink, but I feel its holding my fitness level back. Is it possible to have some alcohol in your life each week / fortnite and still be at your best. I know it can interupt your sleep, which is a very important part of being super fit.
No it's fine. In fact you should get plastered every night!

Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 14:44
by boxbet
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Depends on the amount. Alcohol is a toxin, which interferes with your bodies various organs, and can over time progressively weaken the heart muscle and reduce lung efficiency.
It's not going to hurt to have a tipple now and then, but if you are getting smashed on alcopops and are a regular feature on booze britain, you are unlikely to be setting the world on fire in terms of sporting endeavour.
Wow, I wondered why im short of breath the next day. very intersting post. without good heart and lungs im never going to be at my best. Does maywether drink at all? If not how does he do it?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 14:51
by Goz
Mayweather isn't from South Wales!

Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 14:52
by n1ebf
boxbet wrote:jamesmcdonnell wrote:Depends on the amount. Alcohol is a toxin, which interferes with your bodies various organs, and can over time progressively weaken the heart muscle and reduce lung efficiency.
It's not going to hurt to have a tipple now and then, but if you are getting smashed on alcopops and are a regular feature on booze britain, you are unlikely to be setting the world on fire in terms of sporting endeavour.
Wow, I wondered why im short of breath the next day. very intersting post. without good heart and lungs im never going to be at my best. Does maywether drink at all? If not how does he do it?
I imagine Mayweather drinks very little if at all.......seen him on 24/7 with a big pile of sweets so obviously not averse to treats, but the real calories/fat comes from beer. Guess if you don't drink you just don't miss it.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 15:04
by sweetscience
i think mayweather is teatotal
but to be honest the yanks in general dont drink......althou they do like there crack
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 15:30
by Southpaw Stylist
Of course Mayweather doesn't drink.
I can tell you that as fact.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 16:44
by yiddo14
sweetscience wrote:i think mayweather is teatotal
but to be honest the yanks in general dont drink......althou they do like there crack
Exactly, look at Oliver McCall.
Heavy drinking, whislt an athlete is'nt advisable but I'am sure there are plenty that have done in the past.That and far worse.
The most important attribute for any athlete or aspiring athlete is genuine talent first and foremost.
If you don't possess that, chances are you won't become much anyway so drink all you want

Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 18:21
by Goz
Gazza drank a double brandy before England-Scotland in Euro 96 before scoring the goal of the tournament!
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 18:29
by n1ebf
yeah Gazza stuck it to the Scots that day alright. Wonder if there's any Scots on boxrec remember that day, wonder what they'd make about Gazza's pre match snifter

Re: To be an elite athlete do you have to avoid alcohol?
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 18:30
by johnswan1
boxbet wrote:I like to have a drink, but I feel its holding my fitness level back. Is it possible to have some alcohol in your life each week / fortnite and still be at your best. I know it can interupt your sleep, which is a very important part of being super fit.
Fitness level, maybe, but are you talking about fitness alone or performance? In most sports, to be right mentally is a big part of what's required to be "elite", and it varies from person to person, but I'm sure to many a part of that is letting your hair down and having a drink.
Posted: 19 Dec 2007, 21:54
by Tykemania
There are all sorts of examples of sportspeople in the past who have liked a drink and still managed to perform to a world class level - Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff amongst many cricketers, Georgie Best (until it got stupid), Seb Coe (who has already been mentioned) and Greg Norman spring to mind. The only question is whether they would be better if they abstained - I tend to think not, that the act of being a rounded person is equally as important as that of being a perfect physical specimen - quite aside from which, it seems to me that the more coaches work on scientific fitness, the more thair charges go down with injuries!
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 06:02
by Old bones Ian
So how come the middle east doesn't produce supreme athletes in all sports? not many of them drink, and thats generations of being tee-total
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 06:02
by pm
Coisty v Switzerland was clearly goal of the tournament anyway. C*nts.
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 06:41
by Captain Hook
Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho are heavy drinkers...
...you can tell with Ronaldo as he's put on so much weight. He was leathered when they made the Nike advert a few years ago, the one where Carlos was snarling as they lined up at the end. A mate of mine produced it.
Said he was a little crunt....
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 07:16
by n1ebf
pm wrote:Coisty v Switzerland was clearly goal of the tournament anyway. C*nts.
they'll clutch on to anything won't they

Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 08:28
by Asterix
If Floyd Mayweather Jr did drink, his mind wouldn't be a sharp as it is. I'm not sure I like the guy, but he does have a great boxing mind.
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 09:16
by DavidPayne
Bill Werbenick
Andy Fordham
Ricardo Mayorga
Alex Higgins
John Daly
George Best
A truimphant six-pack of sporting genius who like a pint. OK Fordham and Mayorga are a stretch for genuis. The fact Werbenick could get in a three piece suit was genuius enough
Posted: 20 Dec 2007, 09:18
by Old bones Ian
Asterix wrote:If Floyd Mayweather Jr did drink, his mind wouldn't be a sharp as it is. I'm not sure I like the guy, but he does have a great boxing mind.
Floyd did show alot of class straight after the fight with Hatton, so maybe alot of the bragging beforehand is just for show.