It’s the Paris Olympics’ biggest day. How to prepare for — and survive — 31 gold medal events (2024)

Every Sunday in the fall, Scott Hanson hosts seven hours of television without a commercial. That means no bathroom breaks, no food and no interruptions until the job is done.

So Hanson, the host of “NFL RedZone,” has advice for fans planning to watch the Olympics on Saturday — the biggest, most star-filled day of the Paris Games.

“Like a long car trip, take two bathroom breaks before you begin, because we’re not pulling this car over until the last gold medal is won,” said Hanson, who also hosts a three-hour block of Peaco*ck’s “Gold Zone,” the Olympic whip-around show modeled after “RedZone.”

You will be forgiven, of course, for periodically stepping away from your screens. But Saturday’s slate presents a unique challenge in that there’s a full day of cant-miss action.

American viewers will be served an especially packed lineup of noteworthy events, including swimming and gymnastics finals, U.S. men’s basketball and women’s soccer games, and a juicy track and field schedule. Not to mention the third round of men’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis medal matches earlier in the day.

The athletes in action are a who’s who of the faces of these Games. Household names like Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, LeBron James and Sha’Carri Richardson. Breakout stars like Léon Marchand and Stephen Nedoroscik.

And the schedule is staggering. There will be 31 gold medals awarded across 15 sports. From 2 a.m. ET (judo) to 5:12 p.m. ET (surfing), there will always be a sport to watch — commercial-free, if you’re quick with the remote.

“Go shopping for your snacks and beverages in advance,” Hanson advised.

Hanson, who will host “Gold Zone” from 2-5 p.m. ET, isn’t the only one who has displayed feats of stamina and fended off the body’s natural tendencies for things like sleep and bathroom breaks. Other endurance “experts” similarly stressed the importance of planning, proper diet and the benefit of community (and adrenaline) when attempting such a challenge. Even if it’s just on your couch.

Here’s how to watch 15 straight hours (and then some) of the Olympic Games.

Step 1: Make a plan

New Year’s Eve in Times Square is a marathon of its own. Tourists wait long hours to see the ball drop at midnight, and the workers who control the crowds and keep everyone safe are there every minute of the way.

Tom Harris has helped oversee 17 New Year’s Eves with the Times Square Alliance in various roles. As the organization’s former director of public safety and now its president, he understands the need for proper coordination for a major event that involves camping out all day.

Thoughtful preparation is key.

“I try to break the day into smaller pieces (and) almost sort of phases,” said Harris, who typically logs a 23-hour work day on New Year’s Eve. “The analogy I use is driving from New York to Florida. I break it down into a hundred miles at a time, and it seems like a shorter trip than if you look at a 1,200-mile trip. So one bite at a time.”

Watching Saturday’s Olympic slate will be a much smaller undertaking, but one can still apply the advice on planning. Namely, knowing the schedule of the marquee events will help.

Particularly noteworthy is that American superstars Biles and Ledecky are expected to be back in action on Saturday, with Biles qualified for the vault final at 10:20 a.m. ET (which, by the way, is followed by the men’s pommel horse final, featuring new American hero Nedoroscik, at 11:16 a.m. ET). Ledecky, meanwhile, is favored to win the women’s 800-meter freestyle at 3:28 p.m. ET, which would tie her for the most gold medals by a female Olympian with nine.

“This Games is extremely special because there are two women who are cementing their legacy as not only some of the greatest Olympians of all time, but two of the greatest American athletes of all time,” Hanson said of Biles and Ledecky.

Eight minutes before Ledecky jumps in the pool, the Stade de France hosts the women’s 100-meter final — in which Richardson is the favorite — at 3:20 p.m. ET.

Throughout the day there are also medal events in archery, badminton, boxing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, surfing and table tennis in addition to athletics, gymnastics, swimming and tennis. Whew.

There’s also the U.S. women’s soccer quarterfinal against Japan at 9 a.m. ET and the U.S. men’s basketball game against Puerto Rico at 11:15 a.m. ET, though no medals are on the line in those.

So make a plan. Circling your priority events is recommended. You will not win a gold medal for viewing them all, so building in windows to squeeze in a short nap, grab a snack, or yes, even take a bathroom break, could help you avoid the pitfall of missing a key moment.

Step 2: Pace yourself

Harris and others noted that adrenaline is enough to keep them focused, but concentrating for a long time can also zap one’s energy reserve.

Jonathan Tamayo understands that balance well.

In July, Tamayo won the World Series of Poker’s main event, a grueling, multi-week tournament in which he outlasted 10,111 other players to win $10 million. His advice: Don’t sit too long.

“You stand up during the breaks, but sometimes when I’m out of hands — a hand takes a while — I’ll stand up,” Tamayo said. “It’s kind of like when you’re on an airplane, you gotta stand up and stretch your legs, so I’ll do that because I don’t like sitting in one place because I get anxious, I get restless.”

Ashton Harrison, a race car driver who has competed in many endurance events, including the last two Rolex 24-hour races, similarly said she plans time to recharge and rest up between her driving stretches.

“I like to shower, (and) brush my teeth because you don’t know when you’re going to get another chance to do that,” she said. “And just have my quiet time because that’s so important for me to get my head wrapped around my next stint.”

Pacing over a 15-hour schedule will be vital. Perhaps it means skipping the all-day golf event, which starts at 3 a.m. ET, and waiting for Sunday’s final round, or sneaking in a walk between the end of U.S. men’s basketball and when two-time shot put gold medalist Ryan Crouser goes for a three-peat (1:35 p.m. ET). To harken back to Step 1: Pacing requires planning, too.

Added Tamayo: “You’ve gotta manage your brain, you can’t go too hard.”

Step 3: Have a pick-me-up

Like Harrison, Devin Altieri — a longtime motorsports public relations manager who has logged long hours at the track for events like the Rolex 24, 12 Hours of Sebring and the Indy 500 races — highlighted dental health.

“The thing that is more rejuvenating than a nap is brushing your teeth,” Altieri said. “When you’ve been up for 24 hours, it’s life-changing. It’s even better than taking a nap.”

“And changing your socks,” she continued.

The experts also suggested a variety of snacks and beverages. Altieri opts for water, applesauce pouches and sandwiches around the track, while Harrison goes for heavier meals — a more classic carbo-load if you will — before getting in the car. Tamayo relied on orange juices and granola bars between dinner breaks while on his run to $10 million. Harris said Diet Pepsi gets him through the day before the New Year’s Eve ball drop.

One warning on that, though.

“Don’t overdo the caffeine, because then you’re just going to crash even harder,” Altieri said.

Step 4: Use the buddy system

Hanson’s typical “RedZone” day has been well-documented and does not include snacking. Similarly, Oside Oluwole — a Nigerian gamer who played a soccer video game for 75 hours to set a world record — said he barely ate or slept over the three days he gamed.

Oluwole said he stayed motivated and energized thanks to the support of his community.

“I had people around me cheering me up,” he said. “So the moment I started feeling weak or feeling bored, they started cheering me up, (so) that I’d just forget feeling bored and … I’d see that the time had gone.”

Meaning: Invite friends — the ones you trust will have the endurance.

Oluwole also said the success of achieving such a feat lies in “having passion for what you’re planning to do and putting your heart to it.”

That was a theme across interviews. Hanson, for example, seems to run on unwavering enthusiasm, which he has applied to the Olympics.

An NFL expert in his day job, the Olympics are an adjustment for Hanson. For one, it has commercials. And two, he’s on-air for less than half the time of his typical Sunday NFL spot.

“I’ve got no bladder worries whatsoever,” he said.

He has also had to translate new terminology to an audience perhaps unfamiliar with the rules of rugby or fencing, and learn a whole new set of athlete names. But he spoke passionately about the Olympic storylines, like the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team winning their first medal on the final play of their match for bronze.

“It was one of those unanticipated, jaw-dropping moments with a touch of patriotism,” Hanson said, “in that USA women’s rugby had never won a medal before that just brings people together in the best way that the Olympics can.”

Those committing to all-day Olympic viewing this weekend will be hoping for more memorable moments. And Hanson even offered a teaser for “RedZone” fans watching the Paris Games.

“If you’re a fan of ‘the witching hour,’ there will be ‘golden hours’ coming your way this weekend,” Hanson said, referencing the half-hour window during NFL Sundays when “wins become losses and losses become wins.”

So sit back, relax, enjoy the Games with some food and friends, plan your bathroom breaks, and if a nap is needed, don’t forget to set an alarm.

(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb and Sean Reilly / The Athletic; photos: Henry Browne, Hannah Peters, Jamie Squire / Getty Images and Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP via Getty Images)