Peruvian surfer Lucca Mesinas had just one complaint about competing and living in Tahiti during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 28-year-old shortboard Olympian had apparently been enjoying a stay on the luxury cruise ship Aranui 5 off the coast of the French Polynesian island with a group of other surfers in recent weeks.
“There was good food, ping pong and lots to do there.” Mesinas told TMZ. After arriving at LAX earlier this week, we were able to hop off the ship whenever we wanted to go surfing. It was a blast.”
While the daytime hours were a fun time for the players, the real nightmare for Mesinas was not being able to sleep when the lights went out.
“The room was very nice and the bed was really good. The only downside was that the ship was rocking pretty much every day,” he said. “The wind and the waves were so strong that it was hard to sleep sometimes.”
The two-time Olympian, who was eliminated in the second round of the men’s competition last week, said he enjoyed his room and was pleased he didn’t have to sleep in an “anti-sex” bed, having had sex “maybe only once” while aboard Alu Anui V.
The ship can accommodate approximately 230 passengers in more than 100 cabins and has eight guest decks, a spa, gym and a swimming pool. According to the company’s website. The ship is anchored offshore, and passengers, including surfers and buses, travel to and from the island in small boats.
The hotel features a dining room, 2 meeting rooms, 3 bars including a panoramic bar and an outdoor pool.
Messina and his friends also made use of the ship’s ping-pong table, bragging that they were the best players on board.
“we [the best]”As a Peruvian,” he told the outlet, “as a surfer, we always play table tennis whenever we travel. I’m not that good at it, but [but] The whole team is pretty good.”
The cruise ship was docked 45 minutes from where the surfing events were being held and 9,300 miles from the Olympic Village outside Paris, where athletes staying have not had a very good experience.
Among the complaints about the main player dormitory were a lack of air conditioning, small rooms, “anti-sex” beds made from cardboard and a low bathroom-to-player ratio.
Not all athletes who competed in Tahiti remained on the ship, with some national teams and individuals renting houses near the competition venues.
Some athletes have slammed the food they have been served as “not tasty,” while others, including several from the US team, have left the athletes’ village in search of better accommodation.
The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball players will be staying at the four-star, $15 million Paris Marriott Opera hotel. Daily Mail.
Italian gold medalist swimmer Thomas Ceccon was spotted sleeping in a park instead of inside the Olympic Village building.
With post wire.
