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The Cheese Craze: Olympians Embrace Dairy as Performance Fuel

Recent buzz has surrounded Italian Olympic gymnast Giorgia Villa, who is prominently featured in promotional material for Parmigiano Reggiano. In 2022, Villa shared images on social media enjoying parmesan snacks and engaging with wheels of cheese. Following her recent achievement of winning a silver medal, her association with cheese seems to resonate with audiences. It offers a refreshing perspective amidst a landscape dominated by dubious “performance foods” that often emphasize optimization over simple pleasures. The trend of highly marketed health foods can feel overwhelming, with products now routinely integrating exotic ingredients like adaptogens. For instance, a newly released bottled iced coffee boasting 20 grams of protein raises eyebrows, suggesting an extreme approach to nutrition.

However, Villa is not alone in her dairy devotion. U.S. Olympian Elle Purrier St. Pierre, who will compete in the women’s 1500m race at the upcoming Olympics, also has a fruitful partnership with dairy. In 2021, she was sponsored by Cabot Cheese, resulting in lighthearted content that featured her alongside cows, indulging in cheese snacks, and preparing burgers with ample cheddar. Given her and her husband’s background as dairy farmers in Vermont, the collaboration with Cabot Creamery—a farmer-owned cooperative using milk from its affiliates—seems a natural fit. In her online posts, St. Pierre emphasized her family’s longstanding connection to Cabot, reinforcing the relationship that blends sport with local agriculture.

The choice of cheese as a post-workout snack aligns with nutritional values. One ounce of cheddar cheese delivers about 7 grams of protein, while parmesan ups the ante with 11 grams, offering a tasty alternative to the often unappealing protein bars commonly found in stores. As athletes like Villa and St. Pierre showcase their everyday food experiences, it inspires many to embrace the joys of eating while still performing at their peak, making cheese a delicious, guilt-free option that celebrates both tradition and health.

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www.eater.com