Elite athletes are increasingly turning to supplements such as creatine in search of small performance advantages, although sports nutrition experts say supplements should come after the basics of a healthy lifestyle have been established.
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound produced by the body and found mainly in foods such as meat and fish. It provides muscles with a rapid source of energy and can be particularly useful during short, high-intensity activities such as sprinting.
The supplement became increasingly popular in elite sport during the 1990s. Reports of British athletes using creatine during preparations for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics helped drive interest, with its use becoming widespread by the 1996 Games.
Sports nutrition experts, however, caution against treating supplements as a substitute for proper nutrition. Professor Graeme Close, a sports nutrition specialist, described supplements as the “final piece” rather than the foundation of athletic performance.
He argued that athletes are more likely to benefit when they first get the fundamentals right, including nutrition, training, hydration, sleep and recovery.
Australian cyclist Nicole Frain also stressed that supplements should support an athlete’s existing routine rather than compensate for poor habits.
Another important consideration is anti-doping. Elite athletes are ultimately responsible for substances found in their bodies, making careful selection and monitoring of supplements essential.
Experts therefore maintain that supplements may provide marginal improvements, but long-term sporting success still depends largely on disciplined training, balanced nutrition, adequate recovery and healthy lifestyle choices.
