Beating the heat – Olympic hopefuls turn to UConn’s experts, finding ways to go for gold while the mercury soars

Athletes spend years preparing for the Olympic tracks and fields, but their performance may also depend on how they adapt and overcome the pressure cooker of summer heat in Tokyo. July temperatures are topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit this year, with humidity coming in close to 88 percent.

That’s hot.

In fact, the last time Tokyo hosted the Summer Games, they took place in October so that athletes could compete in relative comfort. But these Games are different, and UConn experts are helping to prepare America’s elite athletes for premier competition while the mercury soars.

NBC News recently featured how Dr. Douglas Casa and his team at UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute are getting America’s athletes ready.

If you’re a journalist looking to learn more about these techniques and the critical importance of being prepared to compete in adverse weather conditions, then let our experts help.

Dr. Casa is a professor of kinesiology and the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at UConn – the institute was established in honor of the Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer, who passed away from exertional heat stroke in 2001.

An expert on athletic training, heat illness, and hydration, Dr. Casa is available to speak with media about this topic. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.