PARIS (AP) — Curious about which songs are fueling the Olympians competing in Paris? The Associated Press has an idea.
Some of the world’s top athletes from the Olympics and Paralympics have shared their favorite warmup tracks, revealing what gets them pumped before a crucial game, meet or match. The results range from The O’Jays to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Drake, spanning genres and eras — all of which can be found on our Spotify playlist.
SUNNY CHOI, USA
Sunny Choi’s warmup songs change often. The breaker had Kendrick Lamar’s infectious “Not Like Us” on rotation. But recently, she’s zoned out to her boyfriend’s favorite song, “Étouffée” by Vince Staples.
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“It’s a nice chill kind of vibe,” she said at the Nike Athlete House in Paris. “But it’s actually good for warming up like right before a battle. It gets you into it.”
Choi, 35, said her other go-to song is Nas’ “Hate Me Now” featuring Puff Daddy.
“It gets you in the mode to go destroy something,” she said. “I’ll turn this on when I’m sprinting. … It helps to motivate me. I can use the music to kind of change over time my mood. I can ramp up or ramp down using the music.”
JAYDON HIBBERT, JAMAICA
Jaydon Hibbert likes to slow down the pace before sprinting into the triple jump.
His No. 1 song to make that happen is Drake’s “Uuugly.” He also mentioned the Canadian rapper’s two tracks “Controlla” and “Redemption.”
“I’m not the fast song kind of listener,” the 19-year-old said at the Puma House in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France. “I don’t like things too fast. … But the moment I start a slower-paced song, it clicks. It’s a cozy kind of vibe. It’s kind of weird for warmups, but that’s what I like.”
MILES CHAMLEY-WATSON, USA
Fencing might be a technical sport, but Miles Chamley-Watson sometimes wants to take his mind away from the competition with some upbeat melodies.
Chamely-Watson’s biggest hype man during warmups is rapper BossMan Dlow’s hood anthem “Get In With Me.”
“He’s the most hood person ever from Florida. I love him,” the three-time Olympian said at the Nike Athlete House before he recited a lyric from the song. “’Pair of shoes, twelve-fifty.’ He gets me so hype. It’s ridiculous.”
Chamley-Watson, 34, who was born in London and raised in New York City, said he enjoys listening to songs from Future and Drake along with British rapper Central Cee, who known for songs such as “Sprinter” and “Did It First” with Ice Spice.
“I don’t really care about words,” he said. “I love the beats.
MARCELL JACOBS, ITALY
Marcell Jacobs jumps from one playlist to another almost better than he can long jump.
One thing is for sure: He has an infatuation with Italian rap music.
“It depends on the moods,” he said at the Puma House. “It’s more exciting songs, more like gang songs. Every week I change my playlist for new music, so I like that change.”
Jacobs, 29, doesn’t have a particular song. But there are some artists he regularly taps into including Italian rapper Baby Gang along with Travis Scott, King Von and the late Pop Smoke.
BRITTANY BROWN, USA
Before Brittany Brown sprints past other track stars, she primarily listens to two songs from musical legends: Beyoncé’s “American Requiem” and Stevie Wonder’s “As.”
For Brown, it’s only right.
“It just puts me in a good mood,” she said at the Nike Athlete House. “It would have me smiling and singing before. Those are my go-to songs right now.
…and so on.
