Few of us can imagine what it takes to be an Olympian. Endless hours of training leading up to competing on the world’s biggest sports stage takes a toll not only on the body—but on the mind, too.
“Prioritizing my mental health is equally as important as prioritizing my physical health,” Olympic medalist Sunisa Lee tells Vogue. “One can’t be there without the other. I’ve learned to listen to my body, take breaks when I need them, and really ask myself how I’m doing.” Or, as four-time Olympic swimmer Abbey Weitzeil puts it—“understanding how the sport is affecting you”—by talking to a therapist or integrating wellness practices that can calm heightened nerves outside of practice. For some, like Lee, journaling has been beneficial. “It’s always been a way for me to get my feelings of stress and anxiety out onto paper, and almost out of my body that way,” she says. Similarly, four-time World Medalist American gymnast Leanne Wong, has learned how to bounce back from disappointment and make time to do things she loves outside of sport—from managing her business, Leanne Wong Bowtique, to publishing her first book My Journey: Trust the Process.
There are also rituals that athletes rely on to get in the zone mere minutes before a competition. “I like to get ready slowly before meets,” says Lee—taking time to get her beauty look in order (braids plated to perfection by her sister; makeup beauty; and her Kiss nails applied to precision) before setting intentions and repeating mantras. “One of the mantras I always use before meets is ‘nothing more, nothing less.’ It’s about doing my best, not a benchmark set by anyone else,” she continues. “Stepping onto the mat, onto the beam, everything else disappears.” From LED face masks to greens powders, a look at several wellness essentials four current and former Olympians rely on to perform their best.
Therabody TheraFace Mask
“My Therabody TheraFace Mask has quickly become one of my ‘can‘t live without’ tech-meets-beauty products. I love red-light therapy for body recovery, and the same applies to my face!” —Sunisa Lee, Olympic medalist
Athletic Greens AG1
“I’m very particular about what I put in my body, and that comes from my athletic background. Right away, I was really impressed by its NSF certification because previously that was something that I looked for if I was going to take some sort of supplement or anything. I love the simplicity of it—I need something laid out for me, very one-step.” —Allyson Felix, 11-time Olympic medalist tells in Vogue’s Well Intentioned series
Hally Glitter Shade Stix
“My competition look always includes sparkle, whether it’s on my leotard or my hair and makeup. Hally Hair has a few fun glitter sticks that allow you to add a pop of color or sparkle to your hair on competition days.” —Leanne Wong, 4x World Medalist American gymnast
Venus ComfortGlide Razor
“The night before a race, I’m always trying to calm myself down. You’re always really nervous, excited, and all of that so I definitely just try to go into that Zen space. I have to take my pre-race shower, which I have to shave every hair off my body. It’s super-calming and makes me sleep better. I have used Venus razors since I started shaving—I even have the mini with me everywhere I go.” —Abbey Weitzeil, 4x Olympic Medalist
Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System
“I’m a big believer in look good, feel good, play good. Part of my beauty routine is always making sure I have flawless nails, and my favorites are KISS Salon X-tend nails because I can do them at home and not have to worry about scheduling an appointment at the salon, giving me more time back for practice or myself. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and long-lasting (up to two weeks) which is so convenient when I’m practicing and competing. I like to match my nails to my competition leos!” —Sunisa Lee, Olympic medalist
Sanzo Flavored Sparkling Water
“I love to sip on Sanzo post-practice–I highly recommend the calamansi flavor. Their sparkling waters are made with real fruit juice and aren’t packed with junk, so I know I’m enjoying a drink that won’t hinder my training. Sanzo also celebrates Asian flavors and culture which is important to me.” —Leanne Wong, 4x World Medalist American gymnast
Calm App
“The Calm App is my favorite way to meditate, and I’ve been trying to build this into my routine more often. Some of my greatest mentors say that meditation is one of their keys to success, and with the mental clarity that I have after, I can see why!” —Sunisa Lee, Olympic medalist