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The 2023 World Athletics Championships have produced some iconic moments so far. Be it the dominance of Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles or the last-minute twists of the women’s triple jump and javelin throw events, the world championships had covered it all. As exciting as it was, the competition wasn’t without its share of difficulties. One of the most frustrating and pressing issues for athletes and spectators alike was the weather in Budapest.

Temperatures soared to 34 degrees Celsius (94 degrees Fahrenheit), as athletes from around the globe gathered on the tracks of Budapest. From sprinters to pole vaulters, everybody faced the wrath of the sun, as athletes’ performances were also affected by the high temperature.

High temperatures at the 2023 World Championships

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Before her first-round race Jamaican sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was looking for a way to escape the scorching heat. She found relief when she sat atop a chair in the waiting area and basked in the fleeting cool breeze from an air-conditioning vent. This also highlights the difficulty faced by athletes while performing at the highest level. A number of events had to be postponed due to extraordinary temperatures. To top it all, the world witnessed one of its hottest July in recorded history. According to an AP News report, American distance runner Elise Cranny said, “You put in so much training and work. You don’t want overheating to affect that.”

via Imago

Lots of athletes resorted to putting on ice vests to keep them cool in training. While others spent time in saunas in order to get their body used to the local heat. A number of athletes also gulped a lot of cold drinks during the tournaments in order to keep their bodies cool. During the world championships in Qatar, athletes had to face similar problems, and some events were even held at midnight in order to escape from the desert heat. In fact, a number of athletes even opted out of the events because the heat made it impossible for them to perform at the highest level. Amidst the heating issues, ice vests have found their way among athletes.

Ice vests getting popular among athletes

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A number of American athletes have started using ice vests as part of their regular sporting attire. Even professional cyclists have started implementing ice vests as part of their race day routine. It is also becoming increasingly popular among long-distance track runners and may prove to be a game changer for next year’s Paris Olympics.

Read more: After 7 Years of Losing to Usain Bolt’s Record, Noah Lyles Posts the Perfect Finish at World Athletics Championship

As global warming continues, problems like these will continue to increase. Athletes aren’t just racing against each other; they’re racing against the elements. Hence, the heated weather calls out athletes and their coaches to make tailor-made plans for the participants in order to better combat weather conditions and not compromise their performance at the same time.

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Watch this story: Despite the Loss on Track, Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce Won Hearts at World Athletics Championships