Slushies could prove the recipe for success in helping Australian athletes to cope with intense heat during competition at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Australian sports scientists have been trialling the secret formula for slushies designed to help elite athletes to combat heat and high humidity during the Beijing Games. Logistics dictated scientists to implement simple strategies where the access to water and freezer space would limit the availability of ice baths and jackets previously used at the Games.

Australian athletes will sip on slushies made from a mix of carbohydrate, electrolytes and ice with other secret ingredients added to the drink. The slushie acts as an agent to retain additional water taken into the athlete’s body through fluid they have consumed. This means the athlete passes less fluid through the body holding onto the fluid which aids with hydration and thermoregulation.

The slushies will be used as an integral part of the pre-event cooling strategy and recovery for Australian cyclists competing in events like the road race and time trial.

Speaking from the Beijing Olympic Games, head dietician at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Dr Louise Burke says the slushie formula is providing athletes with a simple and effective way to lower their core body temperature.  

‘The ice slushies have proven to be very effective in helping Australia’s top athletes to reduce their body heat by one degree to Celsius.’

Preliminary tests of slushies used by Australia’s elite athletes shown positive results in helping to maintain a lower body core temperature for longer. 

Slushies will be used by Australian athletes in rowing, cycling, triathlon, hockey, track and field and canoeing teams during competition at Beijing Olympic Games.

The AIS is renowned for conducting groundbreaking sports science and technological innovation.

Australian scientists are working hard behind the scenes to help our athletes find improvements, preserve performance in the face of the Beijing climate and to gain a leading edge across Olympic sports.

The AIS has kept at the forefront of sports science and technological innovation playing a big part in Australia’s sporting success.