Canadian curler didn't eat for almost five days in preparation for the Olympics
Somewhere in the distance, you could almost hear the voice of Doug Gilmour shouting: “you guys don’t carb load anymore?”
Even though athletes are better educated on nutrition then past generations, there are some who certainly have unique ways of preparing for their sports.
Case in point: Brad Jacobs.
The Canadian curler is returning for his second Olympic Games, and his first since 2014.
That year in Sochi, Jacobs helped Canada win gold. In Jacobs’ absence, they haven’t won gold since, finishing fourth in 2018 and third in 2022.
As Canada tries to break their gold medal drought, it certainly appears as though Jacobs is locked in.
It certainly appears that way, at least, as not many people could go without eating for nearly five days, as Jacobs just did.
The 40-year-old curler recently posted to Instagram saying that he fasted for 110 hours, falling 10 hours shy of a full five-day fast.
“I’m very excited, and I’m really, really hungry,” he said in his post.
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Jacobs revealed that this is his six fast of three days or more, but that hitting 110 hours was his longest one yet.
“This was always the goal for me, to have a very long fast before the Olympics,” he said.
The Sault Ste. Marie native said that his goal was to hit 120 hours, or a full five days, before eating again.
So, why did he stop early?
“I have my kids all day, and I want to have the energy for them,” he said.
Fair enough.
Jacobs talked about the benefits he noticed from the unusually long fast.
“There’s next to no inflammation in my body,” he said. “Boy, do I ever feel lean and strong. My brain is totally cleansed.”
He also noticed his eyesight improved, at least temporarily.
“My vision right now, up close, is right back to where it used to be,” he said. “I don’t expect it to last, but it’s really neat to see what the body can do.”
After four and a half days without eating, what did Jacobs treat himself to for his first meal?
“Stock and broth, super green soup,” he said. “Says ‘healing soup’ on it, which is great, and scrambled eggs.”
Jacobs and the men’s Canadian curling team enter the Olympics as one of the favourites to win. They finished first at the 2025 World Men’s Curling Championships, and came second to Sweden the year prior.
The first game for Jacobs and Canada takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 1:05 p.m. ET against Germany.
“Feeling optimal, feeling ready to go,” he said. “And, just can’t wait to wear the maple leaf in Italy.”