PARIS — After the first weekend of the Olympics, Coco Gauff’s tennis teammates were dropping out. Not of competition, but the Olympic athlete village. According to the U.S. women’s flag bearer, just two days after the Opening Ceremonies, most of her American tennis teammates have checked into hotels.
“I’m the only one really [left at the village],” Gauff said. “Like, at first I was going to move, and then when I kept meeting all these amazing athletes staying in the village, and then Rafa [Nadal] is staying in the village. So I was like, if he can do it, I can do it. But I understand why my teammates left.”
It’s a classic conundrum for Olympic athletes. The village, a cluster of dorms for thousands of athletes from across the world, is an unparalleled opportunity for camaraderie and community building. But it’s not necessarily conducive for competitors who rely on routine and have one opportunity to perform at their best.
With a keen eye on environmental sustainability, Olympic organizers in Paris…
