Olympic Athletes Have Been Binging on Free McDonald's in Rio

When one thinks of an Olympic athlete's diet, an outrageous McDonald's feast isn't the first thing that comes to mind. However, it seems gold medalists can't get enough of the Golden Arches. McDonald's had been giving away free food to athletes and coaches at its Olympic Village location in Rio, but the Washington Post reports the chain has nixed that deal because they were eating Mickey D's out of house and home.

McDonald's will continue to offer freebies to Olympians, but orders now must be limited to 20 items. That may seem like plenty for an individual, but patrons reportedly have been ordering a ton of food to share with their teammates and competitors. The line at the Olympic Village McDonald's routinely stretches longer than a football field. Apparently, a lack of dining options is to blame for the incredible demand.

"Normally, in the cafeteria, the food isn't good," Cuban judoka competitor Idaliz Ortiz told the Post. "In practically all the arenas, it's the same. So the whole world always comes here for American food. That's McDonald's."

Business Insider notes the huge crowds and frequent visits from athletes have been a marketing boon for the chain on social media. McDonald's is allowed to use the official #Rio2016 and #TeamUSA hashtags on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram — most brands aren't — and some Olympians are showing off their fit physiques paired with impressive spreads of fast food.

Chowing down on endless McDonald's doesn't sound like a good way to stay in shape, but maybe that's a flawed line of thinking. After all, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt ate a whopping 100 Chicken McNuggets a day during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and he's the fastest man in the world.

• Olympic Athletes Are Gorging Themselves on Free McDonald's [WP]

• McDonald's in the Olympic Village Lets Athletes Order Only 20 Items at a Time [BI]

• Losing at the Olympics Calls for an Olympic-Sized Fast Food Binge [E]

• All Olympics Coverage [E]