Olympian Plugs Pilates

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 327
Word Count: 212

Monday, June 30th

Are you ready for the 2008 Olympics? I love watching the athletes compete and am always inspired by their dedication, passion and hard work. The training necessary to get to the Olympics always sounds so grueling. How does one compete at such a high level for so long without any injuries? Well, one Olympian credits Pilates for his peak performance!

As reported by EatingWell magazine, swimmer Erik Vendt is the first American to break 15 minutes in the mile swim and is a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 400 individual medley. He has recently decided to come out of retirement to compete in Beijing. A typical day of training involves two swimming workouts totaling four hours and then dry-land training such as weight lifting, running or Pilates. Vendt credits Pilates for his core strength which is crucial for delivering speed underwater. Vendt states that "speed comes directly from the core so Pilates helps immensely".

Vendt is also focused on eating organic foods to help boost his speed. He says that "as soon as I began eating organic I felt better, more alive and healthier".

Even if you are not headed to Beijing, you can still count on Pilates to deliver the core strength your body needs for everyday life!

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