The world is getting hotter, and elite sports are feeling the heat. In 2026, record-breaking temperatures across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America have pushed athletes and organizers to adapt or face serious consequences. From tennis courts to rugby fields, the impact of extreme heat is undeniable.
In Toronto, Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance has witnessed firsthand the changing landscape of athletic performance. ‘The brain is pretty good at protecting you,’ he notes, ‘but heat is one of the very few things that can trick the brain’s protective circuitry.’
The New Reality of Elite Sports
This summer has seen a surge in heat-related incidents across various sports. Tennis players like Ekaterina Alexandrova and Jakub Mensik have collapsed on court, while cyclist Tom Pidcock described the Tour de France as a ‘war zone.’ Even referees, like Ilgiz Tantashev, have succumbed to heat strain. Tragically, Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi died of suspected heatstroke in Fukuoka, Japan, during a training session.
Dr. Lee Taylor, a world leader in preparing elite athletes for extreme environments, emphasizes the inevitability of climate change’s impact on sports. ‘We live in a climate-change world,’ he says. ‘Either we stop playing sport altogether or we adapt.’
Adapting to the Heat
Organizers are implementing various measures to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. Hydration breaks have become standard in many events, and some competitions have introduced cooling stations and shaded areas. However, these adaptations are often scatter-gun and lack consistency.
One of the challenges is the limited time for acclimatization. Athletes often have only a few days to adjust to hot environments, which can be dangerous, especially for those with undeclared illnesses or on certain medications. Dr. Taylor highlights the importance of having a ‘heat deck’—appropriate medical expertise and facilities to rapidly cool someone with exertional heat stroke.
The Performance Opportunity
Despite the risks, adequate preparation can turn heat into a performance opportunity. Dr. Taylor points to the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships, where up to 40% of participants in road races did not finish due to inadequate preparation. ‘Just by being prepared appropriately, you’ve beaten nearly half the field,’ he explains.
Clubs are increasingly regarding the heat as a performance opportunity. Six weeks of heat training can expand haemoglobin mass by approximately 3%-6%, similar to the adaptations gained at altitude camps. However, the challenge lies in maintaining the quality of training sessions, as the heat compromises recovery.
The Unpredictability of the Future
The biggest challenge for athletes and organizers is the unpredictability of the future. Historical data is no longer a reliable guide, as extreme outliers become more common. ‘We used to prepare for the worst possible outcome,’ says Dr. Taylor. ‘But that’s gone out the window over the last five years because we have these crazy outliers.’
As autumn approaches and the Premier League kicks off, the unseasonable heat could bring pre-season advantages. However, the existential problem remains: the unpredictability of the future. Diligently doing your homework is no longer good enough when the data can’t help.
