No, the Olympic Village beds are not anti-sex. And we have that on the authority of the Team USA women’s rugby team, thanks to their creative testing on TikTok.
The beds in the Village went viral for being made of cardboard, which was presumed to be less sturdy in a way that would’ve prevented more than one person in bed from getting up to some frisky business. In reality, the cardboard is just as supportive as regular wood and withstands plenty of weight — up to 440 pounds, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. women’s rugby team decided to have some fun with the beds after word of their existence went viral. In a TikTok with more than a million likes, Ilona Maher and her teammates performed various activities on one of the beds, both proving the bed’s strength and demonstrating some athletic prowess.
The tests included performing yoga poses, giving CPR to the mattress, acting like a “cry baby” by pummeling the mattress, throwing a temper tantrum and jumping around, practicing A skips, delivering a wrestling knockout, dropping to the bed via a dramatic faint, clap push-ups, and “beating up a robber,” aka punching the mattress.
The TikTok concludes with Ilona returning to the screen and cheekily saying, “And for this last take, Nicole and I will be having se–” as the video cuts off.
The rugby team’s tests actually showed the beds are a little stronger than expected. Takashi Kitajama, the general manager of the Village, told the AP in 2020 that jumping on the beds as you would in a rowdy team celebration could break them, just as wooden beds would. But the rugby team did plenty of jumping, and the beds appeared to hold up.
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The true purpose of the cardboard beds is to contribute to Tokyo’s sustainability efforts during the Olympics. The bed frames will be recycled after the games, as will the mattress’ plastic components.
And if you’re worried about comfort, don’t worry too much. Athletes like Australia’s Tilly Kearns have also made TikToks showing how to customize mattress firmness and length, plus the included mattress toppers for extra comfiness. It seems like the Olympians are pretty content with their sleeping setup – whether they’re using the beds just for sleep or, ahem, other activities.
