'It's fake': Olympic athlete's act to debunk 'anti-sex' bed myth

The Olympic community is abuzz around the hilarious posts from athletes on their thoughts on the so called 'anti-sex' beds in the village and one gymnast has gone to some length to disprove the theories around the sleeping arrangement.

With athletes arriving in Tokyo ahead of the of Games, more and more images are emerging of the cardboard bed frames in the Olympic village.

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Organisers announced that athletes will sleep on bed frames made from recyclable cardboard, with mattresses formed of polyethylene materials that will be reused for plastic products after the Games.

Up to 18,000 beds are required at the village, nestled in Tokyo Bay and in sight of the iconic Rainbow Bridge, during the Olympics that begin on July 24.

Only 8,000 beds will be needed for the Paralympics.

However, many athletes couldn't help but share a laugh over the hype around the beds.

Manufacturer Airweave said the beds could support around 200 kilograms, but theories from athletes and repots claimed they were made out of cardboard to collapse under the weight of more than one person to promote social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

American distance runner Paul Chelimo wrote on Twitter on Saturday that the decision to have cardboard beds was "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes."

Gymnast debunks Olympic 'anti-sex' bed theory

But one athlete, Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, has appeared to debunk some of the theories.

The 21-year-old gymnast arrived in his Olympic village room and appeared to read the myth around the beds.

So in a brilliant video, in a throwback to some childhood fun, the gymnast performed a few jumps on the cardboard frame.

"The beds are meant to be 'anti-sex' ... They're made out of cardboard, yes, and apparently they're meant to break at any sudden movements," he said, before jumping on the bed.

And the bed withstood the pressure.

"It's fake! Fake news."

The official Olympics Twitter account thanked McClenaghan in a tweet on Monday for clearing up the matter and added: "The sustainable cardboard beds are sturdy."

with Reuters

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