Olympians Reveal Shocking Secrets: What Jessie Diggins Eats to Crush Frank Del Duca at 2026 Games!

Behind every Olympic performance lies a meticulous fueling strategy that extends beyond race day. For Jessie Diggins, an Olympic gold medal skier, and Frank Del Duca, a Team USA bobsled driver, nutrition is an everyday priority crucial for recovery, mental focus, and resilience, particularly in extreme winter conditions.

“Day-to-day fueling has been really important to my longevity,” Diggins shared with TODAY.com. “I don’t focus on fueling my body only on race days. I consciously think about it every day, whether I am training, recovering, or racing.”

Diggins has shifted from a reactive to a proactive approach regarding nutrition. Early in her career, she believed fueling was necessary only around major workouts and competitions. “Now I see it as something I do all day, every day. Food isn’t just calories — it’s a way to nourish and take care of your body,” she explained.

This philosophy is reinforced by the sports dietitians who support Team USA. According to Carrie Aprik, winter sports dietitian for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), “Individualized nutrition plans are built and honed over time.” She emphasized that building relationships with athletes helps tailor plans based on carbohydrate needs, personal preferences, food allergies, and the energy demands of each sport, which culminates in group fueling strategies.

Fellow USOPC dietitian Maggie McCrudden added, “Athletes who make nutrition a daily priority tend to thrive, while those looking for quick fixes often struggle because the benefits of good nutrition build over time, not overnight.”

Consistent and Intentional Fueling

Aprik sees consistency and flexibility as key traits among top performers. “Athletes who practice consistent, intentional fueling habits but also possess the ability to be flexible with their fueling find themselves the most resilient in the face of challenges like illness, injury, travel difficulties, and schedule changes,” she noted.

Diggins concurs, stating, “Consistent fueling has allowed me to train and compete for years, recover from injuries, and come back for intense training day after day. That consistency is what makes multiple Olympic cycles possible.” While Olympic athletes focus on daily fueling, they also adapt their nutrition around different phases of training and competition.

Del Duca similarly structures his fueling around training phases. During the early off-season, which emphasizes heavy strength training, he allows himself more dietary leniency. As he moves into the competitive season, he prioritizes nutrition that supports power and endurance, including supplements like creatine.

Nutrition is vital for Del Duca, particularly in bobsledding, where an alert mind can determine the outcome of a run. “If I’m under-fueled, I can be lethargic and have brain fog,” he noted, acknowledging the importance of nutrition for mental clarity on race days.

For Diggins, recovery nutrition is non-negotiable, especially during intense events like the Tour de Ski, where athletes face hard races back-to-back. “Having a big shake right after I finish the race is key to getting my body all the building blocks I need to start recovery,” she stated. “My rule is to always have snacks with me so I’m supplying my body with energy at all times.”

Surviving the Cold

Competing in winter adds another layer of complexity. Cold weather can dull thirst and appetite, even as calorie and fluid needs increase. As Aprik explained, hydration is critical at the Winter Games. “A main overlap between cold, altitude, travel, and jet lag is hydration,” she said. “How much an athlete consumes, when, and with what sodium or carbohydrate content are all taken into account. Staying hydrated impacts performance, recovery, and resilience under stress.”

“In cold conditions, you can’t rely on thirst the way you might in warmer weather,” Diggins cautioned. She emphasizes sipping water throughout the day and drinking every 15 to 20 minutes during training, regardless of thirst. Del Duca noted that he expends more energy racing in extreme cold, necessitating additional snacks to help his body regulate temperature.

As the athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, maintaining their fueling routines while traveling presents new challenges. Travel, stress, unfamiliar foods, and tight competition schedules can disrupt appetite and digestion. “Upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illness and stress-induced changes in appetite can be common,” Aprik remarked. “Our No. 1 goal is to develop tried-and-tested strategies ahead of the Games.”

The USOPC dietitians employ a “pack-out process” for the athletes. McCrudden explained, “We pack and ship familiar, tried-and-tested foods and products that athletes already know are safe, effective, and enjoyable for them.” She noted that she traveled to Cortina with two 50-pound bags of familiar items to fuel the athletes, minimizing exposure to unfamiliar foods during competition and reducing gastrointestinal risks.

As athletes navigate long days and chilly temperatures, their success hinges on careful planning and flexibility in their fueling strategies. “Trail mixes, like Nuts About Berries, are a go-to of mine,” Del Duca shared, highlighting the importance of convenient and portable snacks while traveling. The balance of preparation and adaptability is essential for athletes competing in the Winter Games, where the stakes are high and conditions can change rapidly.

From endurance skiing to high-speed bobsled runs, Olympic success is built not only on rigorous training but also on consistent and intentional fueling that supports athletes through travel, stress, and the most significant competitions of their lives.