The cardboard beds fit for an Olympian are back.
In 2021, the world’s best athletes rested their weary bodies on mattresses that lay on cardboard beds in Olympic Village. The unique design caused a social media stir when rumors spread that the beds were made to discourage...sleepovers. That myth was debunked, according to the New York Times, but not before Olympic medalist Paul Chelimo made a few hilarious observations.
“I see no problem for distance runners, even 4 of us can do,” tweeted Chelimo, who won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters in Tokyo.
The beds’ Japanese manufacturer, Airweave, will be supplying 16,000 cardboard bed frames to the Olympic and Paralympic Villages for the 2024 Games in Paris, according to Inside the Games.
Motokuni Takaoka, the founder and president of Airweave, jumped on the beds to show their strength, according to the Times. (In 2021, so did Olympian Rhys Mcclenaghan.)
“We have designed these cardboard bed for three or four people jumping because after getting a medal people get very happy,” said Takaoka in a video from Reuters.
Tony Estanguet, the president for the Paris Games, told L’Équipe, “We were impressed by Airweave’s technology.”
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a nine-time marathoner with a best of 3:23. She’s also proud of her 19:40 5K and 5:33 mile. Heather is an RRCA certified run coach.
